Jane Fonda Defends Mark Ruffalo After Paramount Calls His Warner Bros. Merger Remarks ‘Antisemitic’

Jane Fonda is stepping into the chat regarding Paramount’s public clash with Mark Ruffalo, with the two-time Oscar winner accusing the studio of trying to weaken legitimate criticism of one of Hollywood’s largest proposed mergers.

Fonda and her 1A Committee issued a memo on Instagram on Tuesday, August 23, defending Ruffalo, 58, after Paramount described the Avengers star’s comments as antisemitic.

Fonda, 88, founded the group to advocate for free expression in the entertainment industry.

“Calling his criticism antisemitic is a smear to delegitimize criticism of the merger and to distract from the question Paramount would rather not answer: Should one company be allowed to accumulate this much power over our movies, television and news?” Fonda said.

The dispute began after Ruffalo criticized Paramount’s proposed $110.9 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery in an Instagram story, as reported by Variety on August 21.

He linked his opposition to Oracle founder Larry Ellison, whose son, David Ellison, leads Paramount, and Oracle’s military technology contracts with Israel. Ruffalo used the terms “genocide” and “apartheid” while discussing the war in Gaza.

Paramount responded in a statement shared with The Wrap on August 21 stating that Ruffalo had invoked antisemitic tropes while presenting arguments about a corporate transaction.

The company said his use of those terms was wrong, diminished real suffering and crossed “a bridge too far.” Paramount also said it does not tolerate prejudice.

Ruffalo rejected the characterization Saturday in a statement shared on X.

“The accusation that I am antisemitic is appalling and fundamentally dishonest,” he wrote.

The actor said criticism of a government, technology contract or corporate executives should not be treated as criticism of Jewish people.

Fonda’s committee said artists must be able to question political actions and corporate power without intimidation.

As Globe previously reported, John Cusack also expressed support for Ruffalo during the dispute.