Jane Fonda has publicly defended actor Mark Ruffalo following Paramount’s criticism of his recent social media post. Ruffalo had shared comments regarding Larry Ellison’s connections to Israel and the planned merger between Paramount and Warner Bros., which Paramount characterized as antisemitic. Fonda, speaking as a Jewish American, expressed concern about weaponizing accusations of antisemitism to suppress legitimate political discourse.
In her statement, Fonda emphasized Ruffalo’s constitutional right to speak on political matters and corporate influence. She contended that labeling his criticism as antisemitic serves as a distraction from the central issue: whether a single corporation should control significant portions of the entertainment and media landscape. Fonda argued this approach delegitimizes genuine concerns about corporate consolidation.
Paramount’s response to Ruffalo’s original post objected to language he used in connection with the corporate transaction, stating such terminology diminishes real historical suffering. Other figures have also voiced support for Ruffalo, including actress Hannah Einbinder, who questioned whether discussing the Ellisons’ business practices and political connections constitutes antisemitism, particularly given the involvement of other board members in these matters.
Originally reported by Variety →
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