More than 180 Jewish entertainers and artists have signed a letter publicly supporting actor Mark Ruffalo, who faced accusations of antisemitism related to his opposition to the proposed Warner Bros. Discovery-Paramount merger.
The letter, shared on Tuesday, states, "We are Jewish artists, writers, creative professionals, faith leaders and thinkers who have, in response to the outrageous smear campaign against our respected colleague Mark Ruffalo, a simple message to share with the world: Enough!"
Ruffalo was accused of invoking "antisemitic tropes" by Paramount after he shared a video discussing technology used by Oracle to assist Israel following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. Ruffalo linked Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, father of Paramount CEO David Ellison, to the financing of the merger, suggesting it could be used to advance "oppression."
"These ‘really profoundly scary technologies’ will most likely be merged into one of the largest media conglomerates in the world and one day used on you," Ruffalo stated. "Look how she revels in what we now have come to see as a genocide, which was built on an apartheid system of oppression powered by Oracle."
The signatories, including Abbi Jacobson, Alex Winter, Gina Gershon, Ilana Glazer, James Schamus, Joel Coen, Larry Charles, Kate Berlant, Naomi Klein, Sarah Sherman, Jane Schoenbrun, Todd Haynes, and Tony Kushner, refuted the antisemitism claims. They argued that executives "themselves have explicitly linked to their support for the ongoing depredations being visited on the people of Palestine and their silencing of critics of those horrors."
The letter further asserted that the merger's AI technology "runs through Gaza" and that Ellison has outlined an "Orwellian world" as he consolidates control over media consumption. The artists stated that connecting events in Gaza to developments in Hollywood is the "very essence of Jewish ethical duty."
Paramount had previously condemned Ruffalo's remarks, with a group calling itself The Brigade releasing a statement labeling his comments as "simple antisemitism, where Jewish executives are portrayed as a secretive and powerful wealth-hoarding elite delighting in mass death."
Ruffalo himself denied the accusations in a prior statement to Fox News Digital. "The accusation that I am antisemitic is appalling and fundamentally dishonest," Ruffalo said. "Criticizing the actions of the Israeli prime minister, a military technology contract or the executives who supply it is not the same as criticizing Jewish people."
Elizabeth Barcohana, the California Republican Party’s Jewish engagement chair, described Ruffalo's involvement as reflecting Hollywood's liberal activism and praised The Brigade for challenging him. She stated, "Ruffalo as an anti-merger spokesman is an odd choice given his extremist rhetoric that has completely discredited him with rational people."