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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

More Than 170 Jewish Figures Defend Mark Ruffalo Against Antisemitism Allegations

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

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  • More than 170 Jewish artists, writers, religious figures and other public figures signed an open letter supporting actor Mark Ruffalo.
  • The letter rejected claims that criticizing a business deal, Israeli government policy or companies supplying technology to Israel’s military constitutes hostility toward Jews.
  • The dispute followed Ruffalo’s criticism of a proposed Paramount Skydance acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery and his comments about Oracle’s relationship with Israel.

More than 170 Jewish public figures have rallied behind Mark Ruffalo after the actor faced accusations of antisemitism over his criticism of a proposed media merger. In an open letter, they called the allegations a smear campaign and said antisemitism narratives were being misused.

The signatories included actress Hannah Einbinder, directors Joel Coen and Jane Schoenbrun, Emma Seligman, actor Ilana Glazer, writer Naomi Klein, retired rabbi David Mivasair, and doctor and author Gabor Maté. They described themselves as Jewish artists, writers, creative professionals, religious figures and thinkers, and declared, “We stand proudly with Mark Ruffalo. We stand with everyone who dares to speak the truth.”

We stand proudly with Mark Ruffalo. We stand with everyone who dares to speak the truth.

— More than 170 Jewish signatoriesThe open letter’s central declaration of support for Ruffalo and others who criticize the issues at stake.

The letter rejected the idea that criticizing a business partnership, Israeli government policy or companies that supply technology to Israel’s military amounts to hostility toward Jewish people. The signatories said connecting developments in Gaza with Hollywood’s business and power structures formed part of their ethical responsibility as Jews.

There are several things we have done, which I actually cannot talk about, to support Israel’s military agenda. Oracle has very frightening technology and the company wants to ensure that technology is available for that effort.

— Safra CatzCatz’s remarks, shared by Ruffalo, formed part of his argument about Oracle’s relationship with Israel.

The dispute began after Ruffalo criticized Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. On Aug. 21, 2026, he posted Instagram Stories about Oracle’s relationship with Israel. Oracle was co-founded by Larry Ellison, the father of Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison.

Ruffalo also shared a video of Safra Catz, Oracle’s former chief executive and current executive vice chair, speaking at the Israeli-American Council National Summit in Washington in late 2024. Catz said Oracle had taken steps to support Israel’s military agenda, including actions she said she could not discuss. Ruffalo linked the company’s technology to Israel’s actions in Gaza and warned that such technology could become part of one of the world’s largest media conglomerates if the merger proceeds.

These technologies may well be folded into one of the largest media conglomerates in the world and one day used against you.

— Mark RuffaloRuffalo warned about the implications of the proposed Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery merger.
About this summary

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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