Mark Ruffalo Criticizes Gavin Newsom Over Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Settlement

Actor Mark Ruffalo has sharply criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom over a settlement that facilitates the impending $81 billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. Ruffalo expressed his dismay on social media platform X, stating, “Gavin Newsom hands huge win to Trump and his billionaire cronies.”

Ruffalo's comments came in response to statements made by former FTC commissioner Alvaro Bedoya, who decried the outcome of the long-standing Paramount negotiations. Bedoya asserted that “billionaires have yet again bribed, censored, and bullied their way to the top,” leading to a scenario where a “billionaire media conglomerate closely allied with the president will soon own one of its closest rivals, including some of the nation’s most critical news outlets.”

The settlement was reached after Paramount agreed to terms with California Attorney General Rob Bonta and other state attorneys general who had filed lawsuits opposing the merger on antitrust grounds. Reports indicated that Newsom had previously expressed concerns that blocking the merger could negatively impact California's employment landscape. Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison publicly thanked the governor after the settlement was announced, stating, “Our goal has always been to build a stronger Hollywood – one with more stories told, greater choice for consumers and stronger competition.”

Under the terms of the settlement, Paramount has committed to investing an additional $1.5 billion in domestic production over the next five years. The company also agreed to release a minimum of 30 movies theatrically each year, increasing to 32 after the initial two years. Additionally, the deal stipulates the establishment of independent editorial boards for CBS News and CNN, along with commitments to boost domestic film production.

Attorney General Bonta clarified that the settlement does not represent an endorsement of the merger itself. “This settlement is not a vote of support for this merger. It is not a blessing of the broader merger,” he stated.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass voiced her continued opposition to the consolidation of two major Hollywood studios but emphasized the need to focus on safeguarding local workers. “I do not want to see two of Hollywood’s largest studios consolidated under one company, but now we must focus on holding the companies accountable to these commitments to keep productions on L.A. stages, crews on sets, and ensure paychecks for hardworking Angelenos,” Bass said. She added that the court-enforceable settlement includes provisions for local production, adherence to existing collective bargaining agreements, and workforce training, aiming to alleviate uncertainty surrounding the merger. Bass affirmed her commitment to bringing together labor, industry, and government to protect L.A. jobs and maintain film and television production within the city.

The Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) also released a statement, noting, “We will continue to approach our relationship with Paramount with professionalism and the intention to work well together. We hope that the process of engaging with the attorneys general has impressed upon them the fact that in addition to collective bargaining, our members rely on the law to help protect our interests. These are the lowest standards that our employers must meet.”

The merger will consolidate various media assets, including HBO Max, Paramount+, HBO, CBS, and CNN, under a single corporate entity led by David Ellison, son of Oracle billionaire and supporter of former President Trump, Larry Ellison. The Department of Justice under the Trump administration had initially approved the deal in June, prior to the lawsuits filed by Bonta and 11 other state attorneys general in July seeking to block it. Paramount's agreement with the states represents a significant step toward finalizing the large-scale merger.