More than 170 members of the Jewish community in the entertainment industry, including Hannah Einbinder, Joel Coen, and Canadian filmmaker Emma Seligman, have signed a public letter supporting American actor Mark Ruffalo against what they describe as an unjust attack. The letter, released on Tuesday, conveys a clear message of solidarity and calls for an end to the unwarranted criticism.
According to the letter, Ruffalo has been unfairly targeted with accusations of antisemitism for speaking out against Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery and highlighting potential links between the deal and the conflict in Gaza. Paramount Skydance, partially owned by CEO David Ellison and his father Larry Ellison, who is also the co-founder and chief technology officer of Oracle, has openly expressed support for Israel, with a high-ranking executive previously acknowledging technological collaborations with the Israeli army.
CBC News has reached out to representatives of Ruffalo, Paramount Skydance, and Oracle for comments on the matter. In a recent statement to various media outlets, Paramount criticized Ruffalo for allegedly invoking antisemitic stereotypes in his opposition to the merger deal. The statement emphasized that terms like “genocide” and “apartheid” used in the context of a corporate transaction are misleading and disrespectful to those affected by real instances of such atrocities.
A previous letter signed by over 1,000 Jewish members of the entertainment industry had also condemned Ruffalo’s statements, accusing him of singling out Jewish executives using language associated with historical antisemitic conspiracy theories. Ruffalo has not publicly responded to the latest letter but has shared a video on Instagram expressing concerns about the proposed merger.
The ongoing dispute between Ruffalo and Paramount stems from the delayed $110 billion US acquisition deal, which faces opposition from 12 U.S. state attorneys general over antitrust concerns. The potential merger between Paramount Skydance-Warner would establish one of Hollywood’s largest studios, controlling major franchises such as Harry Potter, the DC superhero series, and CNN.
Notable figures endorsing Ruffalo in the recent open letter include author Naomi Klein, retired rabbi David Mivasair, physician Gabor Maté, American actor Ilana Glazer, and filmmaker Jane Schoenbrun. The letter reiterates unwavering support for Ruffalo and others who courageously challenge established powers with truth and integrity.
Moreover, Ruffalo had criticized the merger in August, particularly focusing on Oracle’s involvement with the Israeli military, given his vocal stance against Israeli military actions in Gaza. He raised concerns about the potential integration of advanced technologies into a media giant resulting from the merger and highlighted the impact on jobs, consumer prices, and industry competition.
Oracle’s public backing of Israel, including substantial donations and affirmations of solidarity, has been well-documented. The company’s commitment to supporting Israel, even at the cost of potential business relationships, has been emphasized by its executives. The conflict in Gaza, triggered by a Hamas-led attack on Israel, has resulted in significant casualties and ongoing tensions in the region.