More than 170 Jewish figures from the cultural world have signed an open letter backing Mark Ruffalo after he called antisemitism allegations from a Paramount spokesperson 'appalling' and 'fundamentally dishonest'.
The show of support, published this week, defends the actor against claims that he invoked discriminatory tropes when criticising technology firm Oracle for its alleged links to the Israeli military.
The actor opposed Paramount Skydance's £85 billion ($111 billion) takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, pointing directly to Oracle, a company founded by the father of Paramount chief executive David Ellison.
In a lengthy statement on 21 August, Ruffalo referenced Oracle senior executive Safra Catz, accusing the technology giant of powering an apartheid system of oppression in Gaza. This prompted Paramount to state it was 'deeply troubled' by what it described as antisemitic tropes deployed in a business dispute.
The backlash to the corporate statement has now formalised into a campaign of solidarity. An open letter titled 'Enough!' features signatures from Jewish artists, writers and thinkers from across the globe.
Signatories include filmmakers Joel Coen and Todd Haynes, alongside actors Hannah Einbinder, Rosanna Arquette and Ilana Glazer. The collective rejected the narrative put forward by the studio against a colleague who criticised the corporate merger and its reported connections to the Israeli military.
In their joint statement, the group criticised what they view as the 'false and dangerous weaponization of charges of antisemitism' by the studio. They argued that pointing out the connections between events in Gaza and corporate consolidations in Hollywood is, in their view, the opposite of antisemitic behaviour.
The accusation that I am antisemitic is appalling and fundamentally dishonest. Criticizing the actions of the Israeli prime minister, a military technology contract, or the executives who supply it is not the same as criticizing Jewish people. This critical and necessary dialogue…
The signatories said that, for them, drawing these parallels and 'speaking truth to power' represents part of Jewish ethical duty.
Other names attached to the document include comedian Sarah Sherman and author Naomi Klein. Separately, Jane Fonda offered public support last week by reiterating that the actor has a right to speak out about politics and powerful corporations without facing such accusations.
The defence extends beyond Ruffalo's political allies. Oscar-winning filmmaker Kenneth Lonergan, who directed the actor in 'You Can Count on Me' and 'Margaret', set out his position in a trade publication letter.
Lonergan noted that he disagrees profoundly with many of his friend's positions on the Middle East. However, the director drew a strict line at the accusations, calling the notion that his longtime collaborator is antisemitic 'an overtly preposterous and disgusting lie'.
Beyond the geopolitical arguments lies an industry debate over market consolidation and job security. The open letter attacks the proposed merger on economic grounds, warning that handing significant media power to the Ellison family will reduce competition and cost jobs.
These concerns are anchored in projections about the impact on the entertainment workforce.
Recent industry analysis indicates that combining the two media groups could eliminate nearly 4,500 film and television jobs in Los Angeles alone over the next three years.
