Actor and activist Mark Ruffalo has been speaking out for months about the proposed $110 billion merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery. Like most critics, his concern lies with the loss of jobs, who would control the merged media giant, and the consolidation of media into an ever shrinking sphere of influence.
In August 2025, Skydance Media founder David Ellison, using his tech billionaire Oracle co-founder father Larry's wealth and influence, completed an $8 billion merger with Paramount. Installed as the Paramount Skydance CEO, the younger Ellison then set his sights on Warner Bros Discovery.
Ruffalo, known as a staunch and vocal advocate for the environment and an ally for workers, artists, and marginalized peoples, made his reasons for opposing the merger very clear across his social media. He's also promoted petitions and attended #BlockTheMerger rallies.
In April, Ruffalo called out the billionaire Ellison family's plans on Threads:
"Two guys, [father and son Larry and David] both of them with a very narrow understanding of the world, who are close friends to the most anti-First Amendment, anti-press President in history, who censors science, climate change, anything having to do with equality, and is currently in the process of killing American citizens, waging a disastrous illegal war, while supporting a genocide, will own the greatest concentration of news and entertainment in world history. What could possibly go wrong?"
To counter Ruffalo's criticisms of both the merger and Larry Ellison's company Oracle and their involvement in the genocide in Gaza, the Ellison-owned Paramount labeled the four time Oscar-nominated actor "antisemitic."
A spokesperson for Paramount stated:
"We are, as always, troubled when antisemitic tropes are invoked in purported service of a business dispute."
Not willing to be smeared by the media giant in service of the Ellison family's interests, Ruffalo countered:
"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."
Ruffalo added:
"This merger has real consequences for real people, and for the entire country. 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."
You can see Ruffalo's full rebuttal here:
@MarkRuffalo/X
People had Ruffalo's back across social media.
@joannefirth/Bluesky
@F_Don8/X
The Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery merger is currently mired in litigation.
While the Department of Justice reviewed the merger's legality, the Ellisons were wining and dining MAGA Republican President Donald Trump after donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to his presidential campaigns. Critics are crying foul after the Trump administration approved the deal.
Attorneys General from 12 states have taken the deal to court on the grounds that it violates Section 7 of the Clayton Antitrust Act by substantially lessening competition. The Writers Guild of America filed a separate similar lawsuit to also block the merger.
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