Jane Fonda Blasts Paramount Over Mark Ruffalo Antisemitism Accusations
Jane Fonda has slammed Paramount after the studio labeled Mark Ruffalo's criticism of a major media merger as "antisemitic." In a statement released through the Committee for the 1st Amendment, per Variety, Fonda called the accusation a "smear."
Fonda, who identifies as a Jewish American, said it was "deeply troubling to see false accusations of antisemitism used to silence legitimate political criticism." She argued Paramount's move was an attempt to distract from the core issue, which is the proposed $110 billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, as reported by TheWrap.
The controversy stems from a social media post Ruffalo shared on Friday, according to Variety. In it, he linked Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison's business ties to Israel with his son David Ellison's role in the Paramount deal. Ruffalo criticized the consolidation of media power and used terms like "genocide" and "apartheid" in reference to the situation in Gaza and Oracle's technology contracts.
A Paramount spokesperson responded by saying the company is "troubled when antisemitic tropes are invoked in purported service of a business dispute," per both outlets. The statement called Ruffalo's language "a bridge too far" that cheapens serious suffering.
Fonda's defense was echoed by others, including 'Hacks' star Hannah Einbinder, who voiced support for Ruffalo on her Instagram Story, Variety reports. The 1A Committee, which Fonda founded, also issued a formal memo rejecting Paramount's characterization of Ruffalo's comments.
Ruffalo himself responded on Saturday, calling the antisemitism accusation "appalling and fundamentally dishonest," according to TheWrap. He argued that criticizing the actions of the Israeli government or specific executives is not the same as attacking Jewish people.
