Paramount hits back at Mark Ruffalo over Oracle’s alleged Israeli military ties: ‘When antisemitic tropes are invoked…’

Paramount has hit back at Mark Ruffalo over his criticism of David and Larry Ellison. In return, the company has accused the actor of invoking antisemitic tropes while commenting on the proposed business deal involving Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, reported Variety.

Paramount reacts to Mark Ruffalo's ‘Antisemitic' post

A spokesperson for the David Ellison-led company was quoted by Variety as saying that it was “troubled when antisemitic tropes are invoked in purported service of a business dispute. Words like ‘genocide’ and ‘apartheid,’ applied to a corporate transaction, aren’t just wrong — they’re a bridge too far, and they cheapen the very real suffering those words are meant to describe. This doesn’t deserve a response in kind — and to be clear, we don’t tolerate prejudice of any kind, against anyone.”

What did Mark Ruffalo say

Mark Ruffalo’s criticism of the Ellisons stems from their connection to Oracle. Larry Ellison co-founded Oracle, while his son David Ellison now leads Paramount and is pursuing a deal involving Warner Bros. Discovery. Ruffalo highlighted Oracle’s ties to Israel with old comments by former Oracle chief Safra Catz about the company’s technology and its potential use in Israel’s war effort in Gaza.

Ruffalo took to Instagram and shared an old clip of Catz, who discussed “really profoundly scary technologies” that Oracle used to assist the Israeli military following the October 7 attacks.

In his post, Ruffalo called Larry Ellison a “classic Oligarch” and raised concerns over David Ellison’s bid to combine Paramount with Warner Bros. Discovery. Sharing the clip, Ruffalo urged his followers to “look how she revels in what we now have come to see as a genocide, which was built on an apartheid system of oppression powered by Oracle.”

He wrote, “This is the company that Larry Ellison is using to fund his son David’s Warner Bros acquisition. These “really profoundly scary technologies” will most likely be merged into one of the largest media conglomerates in the world and one day used on you. Look how she revels in what we now have come to see as a genocide, which was built on an apartheid system of oppression powered by Oracle.”

"There is an old saying. “The way you do one thing is the way you do everything.”

"From one of the biggest tech companies in the world. Powering some of the most destructive and inhuman forces in the world. Why has Trump pushed this illegal merger through? Larry Ellison will own most of “Para Bros”. Larry is a classic Oligarch. They are crushing workers and consolidating the wealth of the world for their own power and concentrated dominance.

“We have a chance to stop this," he urged his followers.

Controversy explained

Ruffalo was among the first few Hollywood stars to publicly criticise the proposed merger between Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount. However, several industry sources have reportedly raised concerns over his linking of the proposed deal with anti-Israel sentiments.

Responding to Mark Ruffalo's remarks, Paramount rep added that his post “brings us to a moment to lower the temperature, not raise it. We’d rather build than further engage in such rhetoric. This simply exposes the true motivation of some who have advocated opposition to this transaction. On the other hand, our commitment to great content is matched by our commitment to acceptance – to every story, every storyteller, and no blacklists, no exceptions, for anyone.”

TheWrap reported Paramount's statement as quoted by Variety.