Mark Ruffalo accused of antisemitism by Hollywood insiders over Paramount merger remarks

Hollywood producers Haim Saban, Lawrence Bender and Teddy Schwarzman accused actor Mark Ruffalo of "simple antisemitism" in an online statement issued by a group of nearly 1,000 industry insiders on Tuesday, arguing that the actor invoked tropes about Jewish wealth and power while attacking Paramount leadership and its proposed $111 billion merger with Warner Bros.

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"This is not commentary on a merger.

It is not a criticism of a government.

It is simple antisemitism, where Jewish executives are portrayed as a secretive and powerful wealth-hoarding elite delighting in mass death," the group, which calls itself The Brigade, told the Hollywood Reporter .

Paramount responded to Fox News Digital Thursday after being asked about The Brigade’s statement and Ruffalo’s denial that his remarks were antisemitic.

"We stand by the statement," Paramount spokesperson Melissa Zukerman said, adding that they had no further comment.

MARK RUFFALO FIRES BACK AT PARAMOUNT OVER 'APPALLING' ANTISEMITISM ACCUSATION TIED TO ELLISON MERGER CRITICISM Elizabeth Barcohana, the California Republican Party’s Jewish engagement chair, told Fox News Digital Thursday that Ruffalo’s prominence in the opposition to the merger reflected Hollywood’s liberal political activism, while praising The Brigade for challenging him.

"Ruffalo as an anti-merger spokesman is an odd choice given his extremist rhetoric that has completely discredited him with rational people.

He is an activist more than an actor (indeed maybe that’s one in the same).

I applaud The Brigade for organizing an oppositional force against the explosion of antisemitism within Hollywood, and standing up to Ruffalo’s Israel Derangement Syndrome," Barcohana said.

The Brigade described itself as a group of nearly 1,000 members, friends and allies of the Jewish community working across entertainment.

The statement's signatories also included Ram Bergman, Matti Leshem, Anthony Bregman, Micah Green and Lynn Harris.

Ruffalo rejected Paramount's earlier accusation in a statement provided to Fox News Digital on Saturday, maintaining that his objections targeted political and corporate decisions rather than Jewish people.