Paramount emphasizes that the company maintains strict values against all forms of discrimination and is committed to ethical business practices regardless of ownership or merger discussions.
Insiders say Ruffalo's post struck a nerve because it conflates legitimate political criticism with antisemitic tropes, something Hollywood studios take seriously given their Jewish leadership and donor bases. The Ellison family's involvement in Israeli defense technology has been quietly discussed in industry circles for months.
Ruffalo posted his attack on Friday, August 21, 2026, calling David and Larry Ellison 'powerful tech moguls' who are 'powering some of the most destructive and inhuman forces in the world.' Paramount responded Saturday with a direct statement calling the accusation antisemitic.
Mark Ruffalo just learned that screaming about billionaires doesn't make you right — it makes you liable. And when those billionaires happen to run your studio, maybe think twice before going nuclear on Instagram.
Paramount has officially fired back at Mark Ruffalo after the actor unleashed a scathing attack against moguls David and Larry Ellison over their proposed merger with the studio, calling his accusations antisemitic in no uncertain terms. The drama began Friday when Ruffalo took to social media with a tirade that named the Ellison brothers directly. The Avengers franchise star accused the tech billionaires of "powering some of the most destructive and inhuman forces in the world" — language industry watchers immediately flagged as inflammatory and, now officially according to Paramount, antisemitic.
A spokesperson for David Ellison's Skydance Media enterprise released a statement Saturday making clear exactly where the company stands: "We do not tolerate prejudice of any kind." For those catching up on Hollywood's most complicated relationship, David Ellison has been attempting to merge his Skydance Media with Paramount Global — a deal that would put him and his father Larry firmly in control of one of entertainment's legacy studios. The elder Ellison made his fortune through Oracle software investments and owns significant real estate holdings, while son David has spent years building a film and television production company behind hits like Top Gun: Maverick.
But it's the family's broader financial entanglements that Ruffalo appears to be targeting with his explosive post. This isn't Mark Ruffalo's first rodeo when it comes to inflammatory political commentary — he's been an outspoken critic of Israeli policy toward Palestine for years, regularly using his platform to amplify pro-Palestinian messaging. But this time, the actor crossed a line that Paramount is unwilling to ignore.
By explicitly naming David and Larry Ellison as Jewish business figures allegedly bankrolling military operations, Ruffalo risks veering from legitimate political criticism into dangerous territory. The studio's swift response signals they're done playing nice with talent who attack their owners under the guise of activism. The real question now is what happens next for Ruffalo at Paramount.
He's appeared in multiple films for the studio through Marvel's Avengers franchise, and those relationships don't evaporate overnight — but they certainly aren't helped by publicly accusing your employer's prospective new bosses of enabling atrocities. Industry insiders tell me this situation is still very much in flux, with Paramount's legal team reportedly reviewing whether Ruffalo's comments constitute a breach of any contractual obligations. Meanwhile, the merger itself remains under regulatory scrutiny, making this particular PR nightmare especially poorly timed for everyone involved.
