More than 180 Jewish figures in the media and entertainment industry signed an open letter on Tuesday in support of actor Mark Ruffalo, after the Marvel star was accused of making antisemitic remarks while criticizing the pending Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros. Discovery merger.
In a social media post on Aug. 21, Ruffalo slammed the merger and also accused the Ellison family, who are Jewish, of being complicit in the “genocide” of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip because of the Larry Ellison-founded technology company Oracle and its ties to Israel. Ellison’s son, David Ellison, is the CEO of Paramount.
Ruffalo posted on Instagram a clip of Jewish Paramount board member and former Oracle CEO Safra Catz and claimed 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.” Ruffalo also accused the Ellisons of “powering some of the most destructive and inhuman forces in the world.” A spokesperson for Catz later clarified that the Oracle technology mentioned in Ruffalo’s social media post “was in fact intended for use in rescuing hostages abducted during the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack.”
A Paramount spokesperson accused Ruffalo of promoting “antisemitic tropes” in his criticism of the merger and nearly 1,000 Hollywood industry figures accused the Marvel star of sharing “antisemitic conspiracy theories.” They said in part: “It is unacceptable to introduce Jews, antizionism [sic], or antisemitism into conversations about business transactions, simply because those involved are Jewish.”
In their open letter on Tuesday, shared by Variety, the Jewish figures claim Ruffalo has been the target of a “smear campaign” and attack the “spurious charges of antisemitism” against the actor. They criticize what they call the “false and dangerous weaponization of charges of antisemitism,” while also echoing Ruffalo’s sentiments against the merger and the alleged “genocide” taking place in the Gaza Strip. The signatures include musicians, producers, screenwriters, actors, filmmakers, writers, journalists, professors and even rabbis. Those who signed the open letter include Joaquin Phoenix, Hannah Einbinder, “The Zone of Interest” director Jonathan Glazer, Todd Haynes, Ilana Glazer, journalist Peter Beinart, actress Rosanna Arquette, screenwriter Tony Kushner, and “Young Sheldon” actor Wallace Shawn.
“The assault on the Palestinian people and the assault on our liberties at home are deeply interconnected, and there is nothing antisemitic about recognizing that fact,” they claim in the open letter. They accuse Larry Ellison and his partners of supporting “the ongoing depredations being visited on the people of Palestine and their silencing of critics of those horrors.” They allege that Gaza has become “an open-air laboratory for AI-driven killing and control technologies like the ones celebrated” by Catz.
“Pointing out the crucial connections between what is happening in Gaza and what is happening in Hollywood is the exact opposite of antisemitism,” they claim. “It is, for us, the very essence of Jewish ethical duty,” they continue, before spewing accusations about Israel committing war crimes and genocide in Gaza. “The time is over for spurious charges of antisemitism to be trotted out, this time in the defense of war, oligarchy, and AI domination.”
Ruffalo denied being antisemitic, calling the claims “appalling and fundamentally dishonest.” Others who have defended Ruffalo’s offensive comments include Oscar-winning filmmaker and playwright Kenneth Lonergan, Oscar winner Jane Fonda, and John Cusack.
Shiryn Ghermezian, The Algemeiner
JUST IN - EU President Ursula von der Leyen says that people's savings accounts are a problem
and that she must put this money "to the service of European companies"
says her plan to "securitize them" and "supervise them"
They're coming for your savings, Europe.
Outrage in Germany after it became public that a Syrian migrant with 3 wives, 32 children and 25 grandchildren, with 70% of the entire family having a criminal record, receives €100,000 a year in welfare.
America isn’t protecting its allies. It is strangling their businesses.
Washington now reportedly wants the Netherlands to stop ASML from selling almost all chipmaking equipment to China—even older DUV machines, spare parts and maintenance services.
And if the Dutch refuse? The US threatens sanctions.
Let that sink in: an American government telling a Dutch company what it may sell, telling the Netherlands whom it may trade with, and threatening to punish both if they disobey.
ASML is Europe’s leading technology company. China has been one of its biggest markets, providing equipment sales and years of service revenue. Cutting off that business will not stop China’s development. It will hurt Dutch workers, weaken European industry and push China to build its own alternatives even faster.
Then, when Chinese equipment eventually competes with ASML, Washington will pretend to be surprised.
This is not an alliance. It is economic bullying.
The US demands that other nations sacrifice their companies, jobs and future competitiveness to serve Washington’s political agenda. Europe takes the losses. American politicians claim the victory.
How long will European governments accept being treated like obedient subsidiaries of the United States?
The Netherlands should defend its own companies and make its own trade policy. If Washington can destroy European business with a threat, then Europe is a hostage, not an ally.
Dolly Parton’s music helped light up the world. She was a brilliant songwriter, cultural icon, and dedicated philanthropist who helped instill a love of reading and learning in millions of children around the world. May she rest in peace.
Dolly Parton always held Veterans close to her heart.
Her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, served in the U.S. Army- making her connection to our military community deeply personal.
From supporting our troops and military families to a lifetime of extraordinary philanthropy, Dolly never stopped giving back.
Rest in Peace, Dolly. 🤍
I was lucky enough to know and work with the one and only Dolly Parton. She was a phenomenal guest on the show; always funny and always made everyone she met feel like a million dollars. We did duets together, laughed together and danced through Dollywood in the Smoky Mountains of Pigeon Forge. And even though we did all that, I would still get butterflies just being in her presence. And that’s kind of what I think of when I think of Dolly. She’s a butterfly. Beautiful. Magical. Dreamy. And like most butterflies, they stay for a moment - captivate you, fascinate you, mesmerize you and then fly away far too soon. I love you Dolly. I will always miss you.