George Clooney Defends Mark Ruffalo Amid Antisemitism Accusations

Politics7 sourcesSep 2, 2026

Leans rightFactual rigor 55/100

The Story

George Clooney defended Mark Ruffalo on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, after Paramount accused Ruffalo of antisemitism.

Clooney, speaking at the Venice Film Festival, stated he supports Ruffalo’s ability to speak freely and called the accusation ridiculous. He emphasized belief in free speech, even when disagreeing with it, as essential for democracy. Ruffalo has insisted his issue concerns military contracts and executive actions, not Jewish people, though he previously described Israel's military actions as genocide.

Paramount CEO David Ellison is the son of Larry Ellison, co-founder and executive chairman of Oracle, which has provided technological assistance to Israel amid its strikes on Gaza. Ruffalo challenged the impending merger in an Instagram Story post on August 21, 2026, resharing a video discussing Oracle's military technology supplied to Israel. He accused Larry Ellison and David Ellison of powering destructive and inhuman forces and labeled the elder Ellison a classic oligarch.

Paramount responded, stating, "Words like ‘genocide’ and ‘apartheid,’ applied to a corporate transaction, aren’t just wrong, they’re a bridge too far." More than 170 Jewish entertainment figures, including filmmaker Joel Coen and actress Hannah Einbinder, have rallied behind Ruffalo. In an open letter released Tuesday, they accused Paramount of waging a smear campaign to shield corporate interests from legitimate criticism.

The letter stated, "The time is over for spurious charges of antisemitism to be trotted out, this time in the defense of war, oligarchy, and AI domination." Ruffalo responded to the accusation of antisemitism on X, calling it appalling and fundamentally dishonest and noting his life has been shaped by Jewish friends and colleagues.

What they agree on

Actor Mark Ruffalo faces accusations of antisemitism from Paramount Skydance.
The accusations stem from Ruffalo's opposition to the Paramount-Warner Bros Discovery merger and his criticism of Oracle's ties to Israel.
George Clooney publicly defended Mark Ruffalo on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, supporting his right to free speech.
Over 170 Jewish entertainment figures signed an open letter defending Ruffalo against the antisemitism claims.
Ruffalo has denied the antisemitism accusations, stating his criticism is about corporate interests and military contracts, not Jewish people.

Where they split

The Daily Wire frames Mark Ruffalo's actions as "How Mark Ruffalo Swapped The Avengers For Antisemitism," asserting his "fundamental hatred of Jews," while Daily Mail and The Citizen (South Africa) focus on the defense of Ruffalo by George Clooney and Jewish entertainment figures.
Common Dreams and The Canary emphasize the perspective of the Jewish artists defending Ruffalo, framing Paramount's actions as a "corporate 'smear campaign'" and "weaponization of charges of antisemitism," a framing not explicitly adopted by The Daily Wire.
Twitchy includes details about Ruffalo's specific denial on X, where he stated, "everything I know about acting, activism, and humanism has been profoundly shaped by the Jewish friends, colleagues, and loved ones," which is not present in all other reports.