Mark Ruffalo Amplifies Opposition to Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger, Citing Oracle’s Ties to Israeli Military

Oscar-winner Mark Ruffalo used an Instagram Story to denounce the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger. He reposted a 2024 video of Oracle executive-vice-chair Safra Catz describing “really profoundly scary technology” that the company had made available to the Israeli military after the Oct. 7 attacks.

Variety Magazine

Paramount Skydance, led by David Ellison—son of Oracle founder Larry Ellison—has pursued a hostile takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery valued at roughly $110-$111 billion. The transaction would place the Ellisons in control of Paramount’s film and television assets as well as CNN. A dozen state attorneys general, including California’s attorney general, have filed antitrust lawsuits to block the merger. Earlier, Netflix declined to raise its bid, effectively exiting the bidding war.

Deadline Hollywood

• Deal value: Reported at $111 billion in several outlets; one source cited $110 billion.

• Job impact: Ruffalo and reporting outlets estimate a loss of 4,500 direct film and TV jobs in Los Angeles County over three years, plus roughly 10,000 ancillary jobs.

The Wrap

• Legal opposition: 12 state attorneys general are suing to block the transaction.

Deadline Hollywood

A Paramount spokesperson issued a statement calling Ruffalo’s remarks “antisemitic” and “a bridge too far,” emphasizing that terms such as “genocide” and “apartheid” should not be applied to a corporate transaction. The spokesperson urged a “lower-temperature” dialogue, affirmed the company’s commitment to inclusive storytelling, and expressed hope that the merger would be judged on its legal merits rather than “underlying bias.” The studio also rejected any tolerance for prejudice.

The Wrap

Sources differ on the exact purchase price, with some reporting $111 billion and others $110 billion. Job-loss projections also vary; Ruffalo’s Instagram post cites 4,500 direct and 10,000 ancillary jobs, while TheWrap’s analysis uses a similar figure for direct jobs but does not quantify ancillary losses. No definitive independent study of the employment impact has been released.

The Wrap

• “This is the company that Larry Ellison is using to fund his son David’s Warner Bros acquisition,” — Mark Ruffalo

Deadline Hollywood

• “We have some really profoundly scary technology atOracle,” — Ms. Catz, executive vice chair

• “Look how she revels in what we now have come to see as a genocide, which was built on an apartheid system of oppression powered by Oracle,” — Mark Ruffalo

Jewish Journal

• “Larry Ellison will own most of ‘Para Bros,’” — Mark Ruffalo

The Wrap

• “There’s a few things that we did that I really can’t talk about to advance the agenda for the Israeli military,” — Safra Catz, executive vice chair

The Wrap