Fonda rushes to defend Mark Ruffalo against antisemitism accusation, says Larry Ellison 'should be ashamed'
Actress and activist Jane Fonda rushed to defend actor Mark Ruffalo on Thursday after Paramount accused him of invoking antisemitic tropes, calling out Larry Ellison specifically.
"Larry Ellison, because he doesn’t like Mark Ruffalo’s position on the merger, accuses him of antisemitism when he said nothing that isn’t within his constitutional right to say. It’s a tactic they’re using. He should be ashamed of himself, Larry Ellison. But there’s a lot of support for Mark. A lot of people came forward," Fonda said in an interview at Diane von Furstenberg's DVF Awards, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Paramount did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
JOHN CUSACK STANDS IN 'SOLIDARITY' WITH MARK RUFFALO AMID PARAMOUNT'S ANTISEMITISM ALLEGATION
Ruffalo was previously accused of invoking "antisemitic tropes" by Paramount after the Marvel star shared a video from August of Safra Catz, an Oracle executive vice chair and Paramount board member, discussing technology Oracle used to assist Israel after the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks.
The actor linked Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, the father of Paramount CEO David Ellison, to financing behind the proposed acquisition and suggested the merger would be used to push "oppression."
RABBINIC GROUP ACCUSES JEWISH ENTERTAINERS OF 'WHITEWASHING ANTISEMITISM' IN MARK RUFFALO DEFENSE
"These ‘really profoundly scary technologies’ will most likely be merged into one of the largest media conglomerates in the world and one day used on you," Ruffalo 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."
Ruffalo previously told Fox News Digital in a statement that Paramount's accusation was appalling.
"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," he said. "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."
More than 180 Jewish entertainers and artists signed a letter Tuesday "proudly" voicing support for actor Ruffalo after he was accused of antisemitism in his opposition to the proposed Warner Bros. Discovery-Paramount merger.
"We are Jewish artists, writers, creative professionals, faith leaders and thinkers who have, in response to the outrageous smear campaign against our respected colleague Mark Ruffalo, a simple message to share with the world: Enough!" the letter read, according to Variety.
"Enough with the false and dangerous weaponization of charges of antisemitism against those who are brave enough to point out the obvious: that the assault on the Palestinian people and the assault on our liberties at home are deeply interconnected, and there is nothing antisemitic about recognizing that fact," it continued.
CNN STAFFERS SEE PARAMOUNT MERGER AS 'INEVITABLE' DESPITE LEGAL BATTLE DELAYING ELLISON TAKEOVER
Fonda knocked the proposed merger of Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery.
"They’re carrying so much debt. The Ellisons are carrying so much debt, and it’s being postponed now, so that they have to pay these huge sums. The merger would be terrible for consumers. Prices would go up. Thousands and thousands of people would lose their jobs, and as a creative, the fewer studios there are, the fewer places that we can take our products. We lose bargaining power. Unions lose their power," Fonda said. "There’s a very robust and growing movement to stop the mergers. It’s sad for me because I like David Ellison very much. David’s Skydance financed 'Grace and Frankie,' my 7-year-long run for Netflix. I got to know him, and I like him, but that doesn’t change things. This is not a personal thing."
Hollywood in Toto editor Christian Toto told Fox News Digital, "Jane Fonda isn't dumb. She uses some old-school misdirection to protect Mark Ruffalo from his own words. No one is arguing Ruffalo lacks a constitutional right to weigh in on the merger. What Ruffalo did with his comments is connect the merger to Israel's foreign policy."
"Ruffalo's bizarre attempt to make the deal about the Middle East, and blasting Israel as a genocidal state in the process, is what drew many people to the actor's comments. Fonda either is unaware of this or wants to fool anyone foolish enough to take her seriously," he continued.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE
Fonda also declared in the interview that she's not afraid of Trump.
"I’ve had my life. [President Donald] Trump can do nothing to me. I’m not scared, but that’s not true for everyone," she said. "More and more people are speaking out because their whole lives are at risk right now. AI could take everything away, and then data centers are being put in their neighborhoods, so there’s been a shift in the U.S. Things are changing. Republicans and Democrats alike are saying, ‘No, you’re not going to put a data center in my community.’ We can see now that even MAGA members are not liking the fact that their leaders are profiting off misery and cruelty. They don’t like the chaos that’s happening."