Paramount hits back at actor Mark Ruffalo over unhinged, 'antisemitic' rant against Warner Bros merger

Key Points:

• Paramount accused actor Mark Ruffalo of invoking antisemitic tropes in his criticism of the proposed $110 billion Warner Bros merger, condemning his use of terms like "genocide" and "apartheid" in relation to the corporate deal.
• Ruffalo shared a video linking Oracle CEO Safra Catz and Larry Ellison to controversial technologies and alleged oppression, criticizing the concentration of media power and wealth through the merger.
• Ruffalo denied antisemitism claims, emphasizing his respect for Jewish people and clarifying that his critique targets political actions and corporate practices, not any ethnicity or religion.
• Paramount urged for a reasoned legal assessment of the merger, rejecting prejudice and calling for lower rhetoric amid strong opposition from several states challenging the deal on antitrust grounds.
• The merger faces legal hurdles from a coalition of 12 states, which argue it violates antitrust laws, while Paramount Skydance seeks a $1.88 billion bond to cover costs related to delays in closing the acquisition.