‘Fundamentally dishonest’: Mark Ruffalo fires back at Paramount anti-Semitism claims

The Sydney Morning HeraldIndependentProgressiveyesterday

Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo has criticized a proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros., accusing the deal of enabling 'anti-Semitic tropes' and linking it to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ruffalo argued that the merger, backed by Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, would allow dangerous technologies used in the Gaza conflict to be integrated into a major media conglomerate. He cited Oracle's role in providing advanced systems to the Israeli military and questioned why President Donald Trump, whose administration approved the merger, supported the deal. Paramount responded by condemning Ruffalo's use of strong language like 'genocide' and 'apartheid' in the context of a business dispute, calling it 'a bridge too far' and urging calm. The merger, which includes acquiring CNN, has raised concerns over press freedom due to the Ellison family's ties to Trump.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames Ruffalo's criticism as a legitimate concern about corporate power and ethical implications of technology, using terms like 'genocide' and 'apartheid' to highlight systemic issues. While these terms are presented as factual claims, the article emphasizes the moral and political stt

The AgeIndependentProgressiveyesterday

Mark Ruffalo, known for playing the Hulk in Marvel films, has sparked controversy by criticizing a proposed $111 billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Ruffalo argued that the deal would allow technologies developed by Oracle, funded by Larry Ellison, to be used against Israel in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. He shared a 2024 clip of Oracle’s former CEO Safra Catz discussing the 'scary technologies' Oracle provides to the Israeli military and linked these to the merger. Ruffalo accused Oracle of supporting 'destructive and inhuman forces' and questioned why President Donald Trump approved the merger. A Paramount spokesperson condemned Ruffalo's comments as using 'anti-Semitic tropes' and called the use of terms like 'genocide' and 'apartheid' inappropriate in the context of a corporate transaction. The merger, which includes acquiring CNN, has raised concerns about press freedom due to the Ellison family's ties to Trump.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames Ruffalo's criticism of the merger as a legitimate concern about the implications of corporate power and potential complicity in conflict, using strong language to condemn the merger and highlight issues of corporate influence and ethics. The portrayal of Paramount's response as an