George Clooney has publicly supported actor Mark Ruffalo after Ruffalo faced accusations of antisemitism from Paramount, the media and entertainment company. The allegations came after Ruffalo criticized the connection between tech company Oracle and the Israeli military, referring to Israeli military actions as a "genocide" rooted in an "apartheid system of oppression" supported by Oracle. Ruffalo has also opposed a proposed $111 billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros, citing concerns over the political ties of David Ellison, a major investor in the deal and a close associate of former U.S. President Donald Trump. Paramount released a statement expressing concern over what it called the "invocation of antisemitic tropes" in the context of a business dispute. The company emphasized that it does not tolerate prejudice of any kind. Ruffalo called the antisemitism accusation "appalling and fundamentally dishonest," arguing that his critiques targeted actions and policies, not Jewish people. Clooney, speaking to Variety, defended Ruffalo’s right to free speech, stating, "We’re not going to ban speech. I believe in free speech even when I completely disagree with it. That’s important. In fact, it's part of how democracy works." He also expressed skepticism about the proposed merger, calling it "a complicated thing" and questioning its financial viability for those involved. Over 170 Jewish artists, including Wallace Shawn, Hannah Einbinder, Joel Coen, and Naomi Klein, signed an open letter titled "Enough!" in support of Ruffalo. The letter criticized the misuse of antisemitism accusations to silence criticism of Israel’s policies and the connection between corporate interests and political influence. Ilana Glazer added that labeling Ruffalo antisemitic for questioning a corporate merger was "absurd" and a dangerous way to suppress valid concerns. Ruffalo responded to Paramount’s accusation on the social media platform X, reiterating that criticizing Israeli government actions or corporate ties does not equate to antisemitism. He emphasized that his critiques of the Ellisons were "fair and necessary" and reaffirmed his support for the Jewish community, which he said has deeply influenced his views on acting, activism, and humanism. The merger between Paramount and Warner Bros remains on hold until June 2027, when a judge will review any legal challenges to the deal.