LOS ANGELES — More than 180 prominent Jewish figures, mostly from the entertainment industry, signed an open letter titled "Enough!" on September 3 supporting actor Mark Ruffalo and rejecting accusations of anti-Semitism against him. The signatories defended Ruffalo after he faced backlash for linking a major corporate merger to Oracle’s technology support for Israel.

Ruffalo faced accusations of anti-Semitism after opposing the proposed merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery. Paramount accused Ruffalo of invoking "anti-Semitic tropes" in relation to the corporate transaction, while Jonathan Greenblatt, head of the Anti-Defamation League, labeled Ruffalo’s statement "cynical and sickening." Jim Berk, CEO of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, denounced Ruffalo’s comments as "a textbook case of obsession and demonisation" of Jews.

Why It Matters

The defense of Mark Ruffalo by more than 180 Jewish figures shows a growing divide over the use of anti-Semitism accusations in debates concerning Israel and corporate influence in Hollywood. The signatories argue that connecting corporate actions to geopolitical events constitutes legitimate criticism rather than prejudice, framing their support as an ethical duty. This stance directly challenges institutional responses from organizations like the Anti-Defamation League and the Simon Wiesenthal Center, which characterized Ruffalo’s remarks as demonization.

The dispute centers on the financial and operational ties between Oracle, led by Larry Ellison, and the Israeli military, as well as Ellison’s pivotal role in financing the Paramount Skydance merger. With Ellison personally backing billions in equity for the acquisition, critics and supporters alike are scrutinizing the intersection of media consolidation, political advocacy, and free speech. The timeline of events, from earlier industry opposition to the merger to the recent social media posts, illustrates how corporate transactions have become flashpoints for broader political discourse.

Timeline

Larry Ellison contributed $16.6m to Friends of the Israeli Army in 2017. In April, more than 1,400 figures from the film industry signed a letter opposing the proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery. Ben Stiller and Emma Thompson were among the signatories of the April letter opposing the Paramount-Warner Bros Discovery merger.

On August 21, Mark Ruffalo linked Paramount’s proposed $111bn acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery to Larry Ellison and Oracle’s work with the Israeli military. Also on August 21, Mark Ruffalo shared a video on his Instagram story featuring Oracle Executive Vice Chair Safra Catz discussing Oracle's technology support for Israel following the October 2023 Hamas attack. That same day, Mark Ruffalo accused Larry Ellison of supporting what he called Israel’s "genocide" in Gaza through Oracle’s technology. On September 3, more than 180 prominent Jewish figures, mostly from the entertainment industry, signed a letter supporting Mark Ruffalo and rejecting accusations of anti-Semitism against him. The letter supporting Mark Ruffalo is titled "Enough!."

What's New

Later reporting identified additional details regarding the support for Ruffalo and the financial structure of the merger. Ilana Glazer stated: Calling Mark Ruffalo antisemitic because he is questioning a massive corporate merger is not only absurd— it’s a dangerous way to shut down legitimate criticism." Kenneth Lonergan stated in a letter supporting Mark Ruffalo that the notion Ruffalo is antisemitic is "overtly preposterous, and the accusation itself a cynical and disgusting lie. The letter supporting Mark Ruffalo is titled Enough!". Larry Ellison agreed to personally backstop $40.4bn in equity financing to help Paramount Skydance acquire Warner Bros Discovery."

Signatories of the letter supporting Mark Ruffalo include Joel Coen, Todd Haynes, Ilana Glazer, Hannah Einbinder, James Schamus, Emma Seligman, Tony Kushner, Jane Schoenbrun, Wallace Shawn, Miranda July, and Naomi Klein. The letter supporting Mark Ruffalo states: "Pointing out the crucial connections between what is happening in Gaza and what is happening in Hollywood is the exact opposite of antisemitism." The letter supporting Mark Ruffalo states: "It is, for us, the very essence of Jewish ethical duty." George Clooney defended Mark Ruffalo's right to free speech at the Venice Film Festival, calling the antisemitism accusation 'ridiculous' and stating he supports Ruffalo as a 'good man'.

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on the context and scope of the accusations against Mark Ruffalo. While primary and additional sources report that Ruffalo faced accusations of anti-Semitism after opposing the proposed merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery, other sources focus on the support he received, noting that more than 180 prominent Jewish figures signed a letter rejecting these accusations. Regarding Warner Bros Discovery, some sources detail the merger opposition, while a Paramount Skydance SEC filing specifies that Larry Ellison agreed to personally backstop $40.4bn in equity financing for the acquisition. Other records show that in April, more than 1,400 figures signed a letter opposing the merger. Perspectives on the letter supporting Ruffalo also vary; while general reports note the number of signatories, Kenneth Lonergan specifically described the accusation as "overtly preposterous," and other sources identify the letter's title as "Enough! and list specific signatories including Joel Coen and Ilana Glazer. The content of the letter is also reported differently, with some sources quoting its assertion that connecting Gaza and Hollywood is the exact opposite of antisemitism" and "the very essence of Jewish ethical duty."