More than 150 Jewish artists, filmmakers, and academics have signed an open letter defending actor Mark Ruffalo after Paramount Skydance accused him of promoting antisemitic tropes in his criticism of Oracle Corp. The letter, published Tuesday, argues that charges of antisemitism have been "weaponized" against Ruffalo for his stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The controversy centers on Ruffalo’s Instagram post from late last month, in which he criticized Larry Ellison, Oracle’s co-founder, for Oracle’s provision of technology to the Israeli military, including during operations in Gaza. Ruffalo’s post linked Oracle’s role to the broader Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, which he has publicly opposed. David Ellison, Paramount’s CEO and Larry Ellison’s son, is leading the $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. through Skydance Media.
Paramount Skydance stated in a letter to the signatories that Ruffalo’s remarks about Oracle amounted to antisemitic tropes, a claim the letter’s authors reject. The signatories include prominent figures such as Joel Coen, Tony Kushner, Frances Fisher, and Ilana Glazer, who argue that opposing the merger and criticizing Oracle’s role in the conflict are not inherently antisemitic acts.
The letter asserts: “Enough with the false and dangerous weaponization of charges of antisemitism against those who are brave enough to point out the obvious: that the assault on the Palestinian people and the assault on our liberties at home are deeply interconnected, and there is nothing antisemitic about recognizing that fact.”
The Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, valued at $111 billion, has faced significant opposition, including from 12 state attorneys general who have moved to block the deal. Critics, including Ruffalo, argue that the merger would further consolidate media power, while supporters, including Paramount’s leadership, contend it is necessary to compete with larger industry players.
Larry Ellison, Oracle’s co-founder, has publicly defended Oracle’s contracts with the Israeli government, stating that the company’s technology is used for civilian and military purposes. Oracle has not publicly commented on Ruffalo’s specific criticisms.
The open letter comes as David Ellison pursues contingency plans to relocate Paramount’s headquarters outside Hollywood as early as this fall, according to sources familiar with the situation. The merger’s outcome remains uncertain amid regulatory scrutiny and public opposition.