Mark Ruffalo Faces Backlash Over Israel Criticism, Jewish Artists Rally in Support

On Wednesday, more than 180 prominent Jewish figures, mostly in the entertainment industry, publicly expressed strong support for Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo, rejecting the allegations of antisemitism he faced after opposing the controversial merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery.

Ruffalo, best known for his role as the Hulk in the Marvel and Avengers franchises, linked Paramount's $111-billion acquisition of Warner Bros to Larry Ellison, co-founder of tech giant Oracle and a member of the family that owns Paramount, as well as his support for what Ruffalo called 'genocide' in Gaza, and Oracle's collaboration with the Israeli military.

Paramount responded by accusing Ruffalo of invoking 'antisemitic tropes', arguing that references to 'genocide' and 'apartheid' in a corporate transaction were 'over the line'.

Ruffalo dismissed Paramount's accusation as 'astonishing and completely dishonest', arguing that criticizing the policies of the Israeli government, military technology contracts, and related executives is not a criticism of Jewish people.

Origin of the Controversy

On August 21, Ruffalo shared an old clip on his Instagram story featuring Oracle executive vice president Safra Catz, who proudly emphasized the company's work to support Israel after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in October 2023, claiming the California-based company helped 'advance the agenda for the Israeli military' during the genocide in Gaza.

In the clip, Catz said: 'We have some really scary technology at Oracle, and we want to make sure it's ready for this effort.'

Ruffalo later criticized Catz, accusing her of 'gloating over genocide' fueled by what he called 'the apartheid system of oppression powered by Oracle.' He added: 'From one of the largest tech companies in the world. Fueling some of the most destructive and dehumanizing forces in the world. Why is Trump pushing through this illegal merger? Mergers like this almost always hurt workers, consumers, and the industry they seek to dominate.'

Jim Berk, CEO of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a staunch Israel supporter, condemned Ruffalo's comments as 'a classic case of obsession and demonization' of Jews, while Jonathan Greenblatt, head of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), called the remarks 'cynical and sick.'

Ruffalo later clarified that 'my views stem from my own political beliefs and should never be construed as hostile to Jewish people.'

The Avengers star is one of many Hollywood stars who have criticized the merger. In April, more than 1,400 film industry figures, including prominent actors and directors such as Ben Stiller and Emma Thompson, signed a letter opposing the proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery, saying the deal would 'further consolidate an already concentrated media landscape, reducing competition at a time when our industry and audiences can least afford it.'

'Absurd Double Standard'

Zachary Foster, a Jewish historian of Palestine, described the antisemitism allegation against Ruffalo as 'a completely meaningless and absurd double standard.' Foster told Al Jazeera: 'If you attack Israel, you are an antisemite, but if you attack any other country in the world, you are not accused of bigotry against that country's religious identity.'

The American historian, founder of Palestine Nexus, an online platform focused on Palestinian education, research, and news, argued that linking the Ellison family's consolidation of major media assets, including the US version of TikTok and CBS, with their close ties to the Israeli military is 'crucial.'

Foster stressed: 'This has nothing to do with making a quick buck,' but rather the goal is political. He pointed out that 'the growing wave of criticism of Israel in the US, Europe, and around the world... he (Larry Ellison) is trying to reverse the trend,' referring to the declining support for Israel across political spectrums in many Western countries.

In October, Paramount-Skydance successfully acquired the commentary website The Free Press, appointing founder Bari Weiss, a conservative Israel supporter, as editor-in-chief of CBS News. Larry Ellison himself has been a major donor to Friends of the Israeli army, contributing $16.6 million in 2017 alone, and has said 'there is no greater honor than supporting some of the bravest people in the world.'

Long History of Allegations

Ruffalo is not the first prominent critic of Israel to face accusations of antisemitism. Experts point out that such accusations have long been used to silence pro-Palestinian voices and critics of Israel in the US and elsewhere.

Jenin Younes, legal director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), told Al Jazeera: 'Americans are starting to realize that accusations of antisemitism are often abused to silence criticism of Israel, but many do not know that this tactic has a long history.'

She cited the cases of two prominent US academics, Norman Finkelstein and Steven Salaita, who faced 'severe professional consequences' for publicly criticizing Israel's treatment of Palestinians. Finkelstein and Salaita were denied tenure and job offers, respectively, and were excluded from full-time teaching positions at US universities.

Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon and Scream star Melissa Barrera were dropped by their management companies after comments opposing the genocide in Gaza. Children's educator and YouTuber Ms. Rachel also faced backlash after repeatedly speaking out about children being killed and starved in the coastal enclave amid Israel's assault and blockade.

Younes added: 'The main tactic is to distort civil rights law by conflating anti-Israel or anti-Zionist speech with antisemitism.'

Palestinian-American political analyst Yousef Munayyer agreed with Younes, arguing that over the past decade, the Israeli government and its supporters have decided to 'go on the offensive against critics of Israel – moving from defense to attack.' 'They believe that merely defending their policies no longer works. It is very difficult to defend apartheid and genocide. It is much more effective in controlling the narrative to attack critics. They have done this in many ways, but accusing critics of antisemitism is one of the oldest tactics,' Munayyer told Al Jazeera.

According to Foster, another major tactic of many pro-Israel groups to 'deflect' criticism of Israel is to attack Muslims and exaggerate the so-called 'threat of Islam.' Several experts agree, highlighting recent anti-Muslim and anti-Islam rhetoric from Israeli leaders and Israel supporters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once suggested that 'the first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons would be the Islamic Republic of Britain.' Prominent US conservative media figure and staunch Israel supporter Ben Shapiro this month released the trailer for the Daily Wire film Infidel, which critics condemned for promoting anti-Islam rhetoric.

Negative Impact on Pro-Palestinian Activism

Accusations of antisemitism have had a 'chilling effect' on pro-Palestinian activism, according to Younes of the ADC. She said: 'There are no more protests on university campuses because the suppression of dissent by Congress and the Trump administration has been so successful. I suspect that is one reason there has been no significant student protest movement against the Iran war.'

Furthermore, Younes said pro-Israel groups have 'a willing partner in civil rights violations in the federal government and some state and local governments,' causing consequences severe enough that people choose silence. 'You don't have to punish everyone: you just have to ruin the lives of a few like Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Ozturk... and people will get the message,' she noted.

Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and prominent figure in campus protests over the genocide in Gaza, was arrested and detained for months by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for participating in the months-long protest at the university. Ozturk, a Turkish citizen and Tufts University student, was arrested by ICE agents in broad daylight outside her home in Somerville, Massachusetts, solely for writing an op-ed in the student newspaper criticizing Israel's actions in Gaza. Both were later released after appealing their detention. 'Even well-meaning people are often not willing to risk their lives or their families' livelihoods for political goals – that is understandable,' Younes said.

Wave of Support and Shift in Public Opinion

Amid the attacks on Ruffalo, several prominent Hollywood figures have spoken out in his defense, including Jane Fonda, John Cusack, and Hacks star Hannah Einbinder. On Wednesday, more than 180 Jewish figures joined them to support Ruffalo.

In their letter, they wrote: 'Enough is enough with the false and dangerous weaponization of antisemitism charges against those brave enough to point out the obvious: that the assault on Palestinians and the assault on our freedoms at home are deeply connected, and there is nothing antisemitic about recognizing that truth.' Signatories included director Joel Coen, actor Joaquin Phoenix, and director Jonathan Glazer, among many other Hollywood figures.

Amid the growing wave of criticism of Ruffalo, US public opinion on Israel is undergoing significant changes. Despite efforts by Israel and its supporters to silence debates about Israel's atrocities and its decades-long occupation and blockade of Palestinian territory, experts argue these efforts are failing.

Since the genocide began, poll after poll has shown that support for Israel in the US and Europe, especially among young people, has dropped sharply. A Gallup survey in February found that 41% of Americans sympathize more with Palestinians, while 36% still lean toward Israel. In contrast, before October 2023, 54% of Americans sympathized more with Israel and 31% with Palestinians.

Foster said: 'The reality on the ground has changed people's perspectives. We all see the videos. We all see the horrific scenes from Gaza. And it is clear even further afield – Lebanon, the occupied West Bank, Yemen, and now Iran. Israel has attacked eight countries in three years. Everyone sees what Israel really is.'

Younes suggested that pro-Israel groups are 'scared.' 'They are losing control of the narrative and of people's support,' she said, while warning that people like Ruffalo should hold their ground: 'Every time someone capitulates, they consider it a success story and do it to more people.'