Kathmandu— Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo has faced backlash and accusations of anti-Semitism following his criticism of the proposed $111 billion merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery. Ruffalo linked the deal to Oracle's ties with the Israeli military amid the conflict in Gaza, prompting a strong response from Paramount and pro-Israel groups. In support of Ruffalo, more than 180 prominent Jewish figures, mostly from the entertainment industry, came out in defense, rejecting accusations of anti-Semitism.

Ruffalo's Criticism

Mark Ruffalo criticized the merger by linking it to Larry Ellison’s support for Israel and Oracle’s work with the Israeli military. He shared a clip on Instagram featuring Safra Catz, Oracle Executive Vice Chair, who highlighted the company’s role in supporting the Israeli military during its operations in Gaza. Ruffalo accused Catz of celebrating 'genocide' committed by what he called an 'apartheid system of oppression powered by Oracle'.

Ruffalo argued that criticism of Israeli government policy and military technology contracts was not anti-Semitic, but rather a critique of political actions.

Paramount's Response

Paramount responded to Ruffalo’s comments by accusing him of invoking 'anti-Semitic tropes'. The company stated that references to 'genocide' and 'apartheid' in connection with the corporate transaction went 'a bridge too far'. Ruffalo rejected these allegations as 'appalling and fundamentally dishonest', emphasizing that his views were based on political convictions and not hostility towards Jewish people.

Support from Jewish Figures

More than 180 prominent Jewish figures, including filmmaker Joel Coen, actor Joaquin Phoenix, and director Jonathan Glazer, came out in support of Ruffalo. They rejected the accusations of anti-Semitism and defended his right to criticize Israeli policies without being labeled as anti-Semitic.

The letter from these supporters emphasized that there is nothing inherently anti-Semitic about recognizing the interconnectedness between the assault on Palestinian people and civil liberties at home.

Broader Context

Experts say the controversy highlights a broader issue where accusations of anti-Semitism are increasingly used to discredit criticism of Israel. This tactic has been employed for years, particularly as public opinion in the United States becomes more critical of Israel’s conduct in Gaza.

The US historian Zachary Foster described the accusation against Ruffalo as 'a totally nonsensical, irrational double standard', noting that attacks on other countries do not lead to similar accusations.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.