Mark Ruffalo Rejects Antisemitism Accusations, Renews Push Against $111 Billion Media Merger: “Criticizing the Actions of the Israeli Prime Minister… Is Not the Same as Criticizing Jewish People”

Mark Ruffalo has refuted charges that he is antisemitic. According to the actor, the accusation is baseless and criticizing the Israeli prime minister is not equivalent to being antisemitic.

“The accusation that I am antisemitic is appalling and fundamentally dishonest. Criticizing the actions of the Israeli prime minister, a military technology contract, or the executives who supply it is not the same as criticizing Jewish people. This critical and necessary dialogue is then dishonestly framed as being anti-Israel. To be clear, my views come from my own political convictions and should never be interpreted as hostility toward Jewish people, for whom I have deep love and respect. Everything I know about acting, activism, and humanism has been profoundly shaped by the Jewish friends, colleagues, and loved ones who have been integral and family throughout every point of my life,” Ruffalo tweeted.

Ruffalo is known as a controversial figure in Hollywood who is ready to speak out, regardless of possible criticism. For example, he faced backlash from people who criticized him for opposing the proposed media merger and criticizing its executives.

“This merger has real consequences for real people, and for the entire country,” Ruffalo wrote. “Scrutinizing the Ellisons, including Oracle’s business built on data, surveillance technology and government contracts, and the serious threat to editorial freedom and the loss of a livelihood for thousands of families, is fair and necessary. The $111 billion deal would hand one family control over CNN, HBO and Warner Bros., backed in part by foreign money whose influence on editorial decisions has never been fully explained to the public.”

These statements coincide with concerns voiced by media watchdogs and freedom-of-the-press activists, as well as problems associated with one family acquiring numerous media properties and a lack of transparency in financing such deals.

Ruffalo concluded by calling for putting a hold on the deal until questions about national security are answered.

“Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called for serious national security review, and regulators still haven’t given the public a real answer. Until they do, the merger shouldn’t move forward. Now is the time to dive boldly into all these issues, not step back or concede,” he stated.