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Actor Mark Ruffalo has rejected an accusation from Paramount Skydance that his criticism of Oracle's role in Israel's military campaign in Gaza invoked antisemitic tropes.
Ruffalo wrote on social media platform X that the accusation against him was "appalling and fundamentally dishonest." He said criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a military technology contract or the executives who supply such technology should not be equated with hostility toward Jewish people.
Ruffalo shared a video of former Oracle chief executive Safra Catz discussing technology the company developed for the Israeli military following the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks.
He linked the technology to Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, whom he accused of using the company to help finance his son David Ellison's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Oracle has supplied software to the IDF, the Israeli defense ministry, air force, government and police for decades, according to past comments from an Oracle sales executive.
Larry Ellison, whose net worth is estimated at 189 billion dollars, has agreed to personally provide 40.4 billion dollars in equity financing toward Paramount Skydance's proposed 110.9 billion dollar acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
In his initial post, Ruffalo also used the terms "genocide" and "apartheid" to describe the situation in Gaza in connection with Oracle's technology contracts.
Paramount Skydance said in a statement that it was troubled when antisemitic tropes are invoked in a business dispute, and said the use of terms like genocide and apartheid in relation to a corporate transaction cheapens the suffering those words describe. The company added that it does not tolerate prejudice against anyone.
Ruffalo responded that criticizing the Israeli prime minister, a military technology contract or the executives supplying it is not the same as criticizing Jewish people. He said his position stemmed from his own political convictions, not hostility toward Jewish people, for whom he expressed deep love and respect.
He said the proposed merger carries real consequences, arguing that scrutiny of the Ellison family's business dealings, including Oracle's data and surveillance technology work and government contracts, is fair and necessary given the threat he sees to editorial independence and jobs.
The proposed transaction would combine Paramount's film studio, CBS and Paramount+ with Warner Bros. Discovery assets including Warner Bros., CNN, HBO and HBO Max, bringing two of Hollywood's five major legacy studios under one roof.
The U.S. Department of Justice approved the merger in June, but it remains on hold while a federal judge considers a lawsuit filed by California and eleven other states.
The states argue the merger would reduce competition in film distribution and cable television, potentially raising prices and reducing production and jobs.
If the deal does not close by Sept. 30, Paramount Skydance could owe roughly $7 million a day in fees to Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders under the agreement the companies reached in February.
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