RUFFALO ACCUSES PARAMOUNT OF 'DISHONEST' FRAMING AFTER ANTISEMITISM CLAIM

Actor Mark Ruffalo has responded to accusations of antisemitism from Paramount Skydance, stating the company has "dishonestly framed" his criticism of its $111bn merger with Warner Bros Discovery. Ruffalo shared social media posts highlighting Oracle's role in supplying technology to Israeli military and government bodies, and criticising the involvement of Oracle chief executive Larry Ellison, who is backing his son David Ellison's acquisition of WBD through Paramount Skydance. Paramount issued a statement on Friday accusing Ruffalo of invoking "antisemitic tropes" in connection with the business transaction. Ruffalo characterised the accusation as "appalling and fundamentally dishonest".

Ruffalo's posts featured a video of Oracle executive vice-chair Safra Catz describing "really profoundly scary technology" the company has provided to Israel following the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas. The actor described the Israeli military's conduct in Gaza as a "genocide" built on an "apartheid system of oppression powered by Oracle" and questioned why the merger had been approved by the Trump administration. Paramount's statement said that words such as "genocide" and "apartheid", when applied to a corporate transaction, "cheapen the very real suffering those words are meant to describe" and suggested they expose "the true motivation of some who have advocated opposition to this transaction". Ruffalo has previously been outspoken on Israel's military conduct in Gaza and Palestinian rights.

The merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery has faced criticism from within the US film industry, partly over David Ellison's political ties with President Donald Trump. Larry Ellison has agreed to personally provide $40.4bn in equity financing for the deal. Neither Ruffalo nor Paramount has announced further steps in the dispute.