Hannah Einbinder defends Mark Ruffalo as Paramount ‘antisemitic’ row explodes
The Hacks star has publicly supported the Marvel actor after his criticism of the Ellison family and the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger triggered a bitter dispute.
Mark Ruffalo has been publicly defended by actress Hannah Einbinder after Paramount accused the Avengers star of invoking “antisemitic tropes” while attacking the proposed $111 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger.
The 58-year-old actor was backed by 31-year-old Hacks star Hannah, who is Jewish and has previously spoken publicly in support of Palestinians, in an Instagram Story after he criticised Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, his son and Paramount CEO David Ellison and Oracle executive Safra Catz.
Paramount subsequently condemned Mark’s remarks, while he strongly rejected the suggestion his criticism was antisemitic.
Hannah said: “I’m so grateful that Mark Ruffalo drew a connection between the Ellisons providing military technology to Israel during a genocide and their unprecedented media takeover – and pointed out that this is a dangerous consolidation of power that could ultimately be used against us.”
She continued: “The idea that he only said these things because the Ellisons are Jewish is LUDICROUS.”
Hannah added: “Is it also antisemitic to point out that Safra Catz, the Oracle executive vice chair who boasted about the ‘profoundly scary technology’ provided to the IDF, also sits on Paramount’s board? Or that Larry Ellison has been buying favor with Trump by donating tens of millions to his political effort for years? Or that he once offered Netanyahu a lucrative Oracle post?”
The row began after Mark shared footage on Instagram of Safra discussing technology Oracle made available to Israel following the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack.
Mark called Larry a “classic oligarch” and criticised the proposed merger, arguing the Ellisons “are crushing workers and consolidating the wealth of the world for their own power and concentrated dominance”.
Referring to Safra, Mark said: “Look how 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.”
Paramount responded by saying it was “troubled when antisemitic tropes are invoked in purported service of a business dispute”.
The company added: “Words like ‘genocide’ and ‘apartheid,’ applied to a corporate transaction, aren’t just wrong – they’re a bridge too far, and they cheapen the very real suffering those words are meant to describe.”
It concluded: “This doesn’t deserve a response in kind – and to be clear, we don’t tolerate prejudice of any kind, against anyone.”
Mark rejected Paramount’s accusation on X.
He said: “The accusation that I am antisemitic is appalling and fundamentally dishonest. Criticising 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.”
Mark continued: “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.”
The Simon Wiesenthal Center and Creative Community for Peace subsequently criticised Mark’s comments.
Simon Wiesenthal Center chief executive Jim Berk said: “Words matter, and so does the willingness to draw a line when legitimate debate gives way to antisemitic tropes.”
Jim added: “We commend Paramount for speaking clearly and refusing to allow prejudice to masquerade as political or corporate criticism.”
Hannah, however, continued her defense of Mark, saying: “If you want to make it about the Ellisons being Jewish, then you are the one being antisemitic.”
She added: “All of us artists could stand to be more like Mark, willing to speak out for oppressed people everywhere, even when powerful people try to bully us into silence. Visibility is a responsibility. Those of us with a platform need to use our voices before speaking out is outlawed altogether.”
John Cusack has also backed Mark amid the dispute, writing on social media he stood in “solidarity” with the actor.
The controversy comes as Hannah moves on from the HBO comedy Hacks, the series that made her widely known as comedy writer Ava Daniels opposite Jean Smart.
The show concluded earlier this year, and Hannah recently recalled on Jimmy Kimmel Live! being surprised to overhear two college fraternity members discussing it at an airport.
Hannah is now starring opposite The X-Files actress Gillian Anderson in Jane Schoenbrun’s Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, playing a filmmaker hired to reboot a horror franchise who becomes involved with the reclusive actress who starred in the original films.
Mark remains best known for playing Bruce Banner and the Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, beginning with The Avengers and continuing through films including Avengers: Age of Ultron, Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
His other major credits include Spotlight, Poor Things, Zodiac, Foxcatcher and The Kids Are All Right.
