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A coalition of nearly 1,000 entertainment industry professionals released a statement Tuesday condemning actor Mark Ruffalo for invoking antisemitic stereotypes while opposing the proposed $111 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger. Producers Haim Saban, Lawrence Bender and Teddy Schwarzman led the effort through a group calling itself The Brigade, which represents workers and allies of the Jewish community in the entertainment sector.
The Brigade argued that Ruffalo’s attacks on Paramount leadership deployed historical antisemitic tropes depicting Jewish individuals as secretive, wealthy elites. “This is not commentary on a merger. It is not a criticism of a government. It is simple antisemitism, where Jewish executives are portrayed as a secretive and powerful wealth-hoarding elite delighting in mass death,” the group told The Hollywood Reporter.
Ruffalo’s criticism centered on technology that Oracle, led by Larry Ellison, developed to assist Israel following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks. The actor shared a video of Safra Catz, Oracle’s executive vice chair and Paramount board member, discussing the technology, and warned that such systems could be absorbed into a massive media conglomerate.
Paramount spokesperson Melissa Zukerman said Thursday the company “stands by the statement” and declined additional comment. The studio previously characterized Ruffalo’s remarks as crossing from legitimate transaction criticism into prejudice, stating it does not condone bias against any group.
Ruffalo rejected the accusation in a statement Saturday, insisting his objections targeted political decisions and corporate actions rather than Jewish people. “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,” he stated.
The Brigade countered that singling out Jewish executives while invoking Israel as the framing device amounted to importing antisemitic conspiracy narratives into a corporate dispute. Additional signatories included Ram Bergman, Matti Leshem, Anthony Bregman, Micah Green and Lynn Harris.
The entertainment community remains divided on the dispute. Actor John Cusack publicly supported Ruffalo over the weekend, while “Hacks” actress Hannah Einbinder dismissed the antisemitism allegation as unfounded. The Simon Wiesenthal Center backed Paramount’s response.
The merger faces separate legal challenges from twelve state attorneys general citing antitrust concerns. Under an agreement with the companies, any closing is blocked until five days after a court ruling or June 1, 2027, whichever occurs first. The transaction would consolidate CNN, HBO and Warner Bros. studio assets under common ownership.
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