New Delhi: More than 180 Jewish artists worldwide have signed a letter supporting American actor and film producer Mark Ruffalo over his remarks and activism against the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros.
The letter claimed that Ruffalo has been the subject of spurious charges of antisemitism and is supported by artists such as Joel Coen, Joaquin Phoenix, Jonathan Glazer, Hannah Einbinder, James Schamus, Emma Seligman and Tony Kushner.
The controversy began after Ruffalo criticised the proposed merger by drawing attention to the relationship between Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison and Oracle, the technology company founded by his father, billionaire Larry Ellison. Oracle has provided technology to the Israeli military and other Israeli government agencies for decades.
Ruffalo shared a video featuring Oracle executive vice-chair Safra Catz discussing the company’s technology and its support for Israel. The actor argued that Oracle’s technology could eventually become part of one of the world’s largest media conglomerates if the Paramount-Warner Bros. deal goes through.
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‘The accusation is appalling’
Paramount Skydance responded by accusing Ruffalo of using antisemitic tropes in his criticism. The company said that references to “genocide” and “apartheid” in the context of a corporate transaction were inappropriate and risked diminishing the suffering associated with those terms.
“We are, as always, troubled when antisemitic tropes are invoked in purported service of a business dispute,” a Paramount spokesperson said.
On 23 August, Ruffalo fired back at Paramount Skydance after the media company accused the actor of invoking “antisemitic tropes” in his criticism of its proposed $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.
“The accusation that I am antisemitic is appalling and fundamentally dishonest,” Ruffalo posted on X, rejecting the company’s characterisation of his remarks.
The new letter, signed by the Jewish artists and published on Tuesday, argued in defence of Ruffalo that the claims by Paramount are false and a dangerous weaponisation of charges of antisemitism, and highlighted the company’s connection with Israel.
“Pointing out the crucial connections between what is happening in Gaza and what is happening in Hollywood is the exact opposite of antisemitism. It is, for us, the very essence of Jewish ethical duty,” the letter reads.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)