Paramount accuses Mark Ruffalo of using antisemitic tropes

Paramount Pictures has responded to criticism from Marvel Cinematic Universe actor Mark Ruffalo regarding its planned merger with Warner Brothers, accusing the star of employing antisemitic tropes. In an Instagram post, Ruffalo attacked David Ellison, owner of Paramount Skydance, citing his relationship with his father, Larry Ellison. Larry Ellison is the founder of Oracle, a company that provided assistance to Israel following the October 7 Hamas massacre. Ruffalo alleged that Oracle is funding David Ellison's acquisition of Warner Bros and repeated claims characterizing Israel's response to the Hamas attacks as "genocide." In a statement reported by CNN, Paramount expressed concern over the use of antisemitic tropes in the context of a business dispute, stating that terms like "genocide" and "apartheid" applied to a corporate transaction are "wrong" and "cheapen the very real suffering those words are meant to describe." The company added that such rhetoric "exposes the true motivation" of those opposing the transaction. Ruffalo has frequently criticized Israel in the past; in 2021, he issued an apology after previously accusing Israel of genocide during a conflict in Gaza.