Actor George Clooney says he supports Mark Ruffalo’s right to criticize a proposed Paramount takeover of Warner Bros Discovery, while expressing his own concerns about further Hollywood consolidation. Clooney makes the comments in Venice as he prepares to receive the festival’s Golden Lion for lifetime achievement.
The dispute centers on Ruffalo’s public remarks about the deal, which Paramount has criticized and has characterized as antisemitic. Clooney says he worries about what can happen when large companies merge and consolidates power, and he points to Ruffalo’s ability to speak freely. ComingSoon reports that Clooney also disputes the claim that Ruffalo’s comments should be framed as antisemitic, and highlights broader concerns about jobs and industry impact.
Across the outlets, the core points are Clooney’s defense of Ruffalo’s free expression and his skepticism of the merger’s effects, with Paramount’s antisemitism accusation presented as a key element of the controversy.
