A probe has been initiated into California Attorney General Rob Bonta's communications with actor Mark Ruffalo, following controversial remarks made by the actor about Paramount Global and its leadership. Mark Goldfeder, a civil rights attorney, has filed requests for Bonta's past correspondence with Ruffalo, raising questions about whether the AG's office exhibited bias in an antitrust case centered on the proposed merger of Paramount and Skydance Media.

Ruffalo ignited controversy on [DATE-OF-POST-MINUS-ONE-DAY], when he shared an Instagram clip of Safra Catz, CEO of Oracle and a member of Paramount's board, discussing "really profoundly scary technologies" used by the Israeli military. Ruffalo's post claimed these technologies were linked to Larry Ellison and his son David Ellison, who he accused of consolidating global wealth and funding a media conglomerate that could be used against the public. Paramount subsequently accused Ruffalo of using "antisemitic tropes."

Connection Between Ruffalo and Bonta

The scrutiny on Bonta's relationship with Ruffalo intensified as the actor had previously engaged with the Attorney General regarding the Paramount-Skydance merger. In February, Ruffalo posted on X (formerly Twitter) about concerns over how the merger could negatively impact industry competition, wages, and product quality. Bonta responded to Ruffalo, stating, "Mark, I hear you. I'm in conversation with my AG colleagues about Paramount/Warner Bros." He added that California has a "special interest in protecting competition" as the "epicenter of the entertainment industry."

Further engagement between the two occurred on May 21, when Bonta participated in a virtual town hall organized by the #BlockTheMerger coalition, which included Ruffalo and other critics of the merger and Israel's actions. Goldfeder stated, "Our California Public Records Act requests will show whether he heard that part too before he filed suit and whether this was antitrust enforcement or state power lent to someone else’s very different grievance."

Bonta's office reportedly canceled settlement talks with Paramount Skydance attorneys on Monday, the same day the talks were scheduled to begin, amidst the escalating controversy.

Industry Reaction and Scrutiny

Paramount's accusation of antisemitism against Ruffalo has drawn varied responses. The Creative Coalition for Peace urged Hollywood to "deplatform the actor for 'extremist and antisemitic messaging,'" marking the first time the group has called for such action against an industry figure. Ari Ingel, executive director of CCFP, commented, "His words have consequences."

Jewish leaders have also weighed in. Jim Berk, CEO of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, commended Paramount for its stance, stating, "Invoking Israel in an issue where it is completely irrelevant is a textbook case of obsession and demonization." Jack Simony, president and director general of the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation, recognized "Paramount deserves recognition for confronting antisemitic tropes directly and unequivocally."

Noah Farkas, president and CEO of LA Jewish Federation, addressed Bonta's role, stating, "Hearing legitimate antitrust concerns cannot mean excusing rhetoric that invokes age-old tropes about Jewish wealth, media control and sinister power. Competition matters. And so does confronting antisemitism—consistently and wherever it appears."

Ruffalo has a history of making statements that have drawn criticism and scrutiny. In 2021, he accused Israel of committing "genocide" but later apologized, admitting the claim was "not accurate" and "inflammatory."

The merger itself remains on hold, with a federal trial scheduled for March in Oakland if a settlement cannot be reached. Ruffalo has several high-profile projects slated for release, including Apple's "Being Heumann" and Pixar's "Gatto."