Jewish Creatives Defend Mark Ruffalo in Open
A group of prominent Jewish artists and thinkers, including Emma Seligman and Tony Kushner, have published an open letter defending actor Mark Ruffalo
A coalition of Jewish artists, writers, and thinkers has issued a public defense of actor Mark Ruffalo. They denounce what they call an "outrageous smear campaign" against him.
Ruffalo faced accusations from media conglomerate Paramount Skydance. The company claimed his criticism of its proposed $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery invoked antisemitic tropes. In a social media statement last month, the actor highlighted ties between Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, his father Larry Ellison's company Oracle, and the Israel Defense Forces.
The Letter's Core Argument
The open letter states a simple message: "Enough!". It condemns the weaponization of antisemitism charges against those criticizing Israel's conduct. The signatories argue that recognizing connections between the assault on Palestinians and threats to domestic liberties is not antisemitic. They see this recognition as a Jewish ethical duty.
A recent Washington Post poll is cited. It found that 61% of American Jews agree Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza. Four in ten believe these actions amount to genocide. The letter questions if those attacking Ruffalo consider these American Jews antisemites as well.
The Media Merger and Broader Ties
The letter frames the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger as more than a corporate combination. It warns of destroyed livelihoods, consolidated media control, and strangled creativity. The signatories connect this to a larger project of tech-driven domination explicitly linked by the Ellisons to supporting Israel's actions.
They reference Larry Ellison's partnership with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, backed by $350 million. Blair has assumed a role in the "Board of Peace" takeover of Gaza, described as an open-air laboratory for AI-driven killing technologies. Former Oracle CEO Safra Catz, now on Oracle and Paramount's board, has celebrated such technologies.
"The AI road to WarnerMount runs through Gaza," the letter asserts. It quotes Larry Ellison's vision of constant recording and reporting to ensure citizen behavior.
Signatories and Final Stand
The letter is signed by numerous prominent figures from the arts, academia, and faith communities. Notable names include filmmaker Emma Seligman, physician Gabor Maté, actor Hannah Einbinder, comedian Ilana Glazer, producer James Schamus, director Joel Coen, artist Miranda July, and playwright Tony Kushner.
The signatories state their position is based on increasing public conscience. They proclaim the time is over for spurious antisemitism charges defending war, oligarchy, and AI domination. The letter concludes, "We stand proudly with Mark Ruffalo, and with all decent people who are bravely rising and speaking truth to power."
Additional notes in the source material reference Oracle executives' clear stance on Israel and details of the company's partnerships with the Israeli military.
