Mark Ruffalo urges California AG Rob Bonta not to settle Paramount-Skydance merger lawsuit
Synopsis
Mark Ruffalo isn't just protesting — he's mobilising. With over 75,000 petition signatures, calls for protests outside the Oakland AG office, and a very public antisemitism rebuttal, the actor has turned a media merger lawsuit into a full-blown Hollywood vs. billionaire ownership battle. The next move belongs to California AG Rob Bonta.
Key Takeaways
Mark Ruffalo publicly urged California AG Rob Bonta and 11 other state AGs not to settle their lawsuit against the Paramount-Skydance merger.
More than 75,000 people have reportedly signed a petition opposing the deal within 3 weeks , with 5,670 filmmakers said to have backed the legal fight.
Ruffalo called on Bay Area residents to protest outside the AG's office in Oakland after reports emerged that Bonta was reportedly preparing to settle.
Ruffalo faced allegations of antisemitism after targeting David Ellison and Larry Ellison ; he denied the charges, calling them 'appalling and fundamentally dishonest.' The merger battle reflects broader anxieties over media consolidation following Hollywood's 2023 strikes.
Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo has publicly pressured California Attorney General Rob Bonta and a coalition of 11 other state attorneys general to hold firm in their lawsuit challenging the Paramount-Skydance merger and block billionaire David Ellison from acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery. Ruffalo posted the appeal on X (formerly Twitter) on 20 September 2026, warning that a settlement would amount to caving to a 'lousy deal filled with empty promises.'
Ruffalo's Direct Appeal to AG Bonta
In a pointed post on X, Ruffalo urged the attorneys general to resist pressure to settle. 'Don't you dare, (Rob Bonta), do not cave. 5,670 filmmakers put their necks on the line for you to fight this merger. Another 75,000+ and counting have signed to tell you not to concede in just 3 weeks. You work for the people, the very people who will be hurt if you let this lousy deal filled with empty promises go forward. Please sign to send a message to the AGs and Paramount. Reject the deal. The people don't want it,' he wrote.
After reports emerged that Bonta was reportedly preparing to settle, Ruffalo escalated his campaign by calling on supporters in the Bay Area to physically demonstrate outside the AG's office. 'To my friends in the Bay Area: I'm hearing Rob Bonta is about to cave and hand Warner Bros over to the Ellisons. We can't let him do that. Can you show up outside his AG office in Oakland tomorrow at 5pm to reject this backroom deal? Reject the deal. The people don't want it,' he added.
The Antisemitism Allegations and Ruffalo's Response
The actor's activism has not come without controversy. Earlier, Ruffalo faced allegations of antisemitism after he publicly accused David Ellison and his father Larry Ellison of 'powering some of the most destructive and inhuman forces in the world' — a remark that drew sharp rebuke from Paramount. Ruffalo took to X to push back forcefully against the characterisation.
'The accusation that I am antisemitic is appalling and fundamentally dishonest. Criticizing the actions of the Israeli prime minister, a military technology contract, or the executives who supply it is not the same as criticizing Jewish people,' he wrote. He added, 'This critical and necessary dialogue is then dishonestly framed as being anti-Israel. To be clear, my views come from my own political convictions and should never be interpreted as hostility toward Jewish people, for whom I have deep love and respect.'
What Is at Stake in the Merger Battle
The lawsuit, backed by a coalition of state AGs, seeks to scrutinise whether the Paramount-Skydance deal — which would hand significant control to David Ellison — serves the public interest, particularly for media workers and content creators. Ruffalo's mobilisation of filmmakers and the broader public signals that the merger has become a flashpoint for broader anxieties over media consolidation and the concentration of power in the entertainment industry.
This comes amid an already turbulent period for Hollywood, as streaming economics have reshaped studio finances and the 2023 writers' and actors' strikes deepened distrust between talent and corporate ownership. Notably, the involvement of high-profile talent like Ruffalo gives the opposition unusual public visibility.
What Happens Next
All eyes are now on Attorney General Rob Bonta and the coalition of state AGs as they weigh whether to proceed with the lawsuit or accept a negotiated settlement. A decision in the coming days will determine whether the regulatory challenge to the Ellison-led acquisition proceeds to a courtroom or is resolved through conditions agreed behind closed doors. The outcome could set a precedent for how state-level enforcers handle major media mergers in the years ahead.
Point of View
Ruffalo handed opponents a framing weapon that now clouds the legitimate competition concerns at the core of the lawsuit. The deeper question mainstream coverage is underplaying is whether state AGs have both the legal firepower and the political will to block a deal of this scale. If Bonta settles, it will signal that even coordinated multi-state enforcement has limits when facing billionaire-backed media consolidation — a precedent with consequences well beyond this merger.
NationPress
20 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Mark Ruffalo opposing the Paramount-Skydance merger?
Mark Ruffalo opposes the merger because he believes it would concentrate too much media power in the hands of David Ellison and his family, harming filmmakers and the public. He argues the deal is 'filled with empty promises' and has mobilised thousands of filmmakers and petition signatories to resist it.
Who is Rob Bonta and what is his role in this lawsuit?
Rob Bonta is California's Attorney General, leading a coalition of 11 other state AGs in a lawsuit challenging the Paramount-Skydance merger. Reports suggest he may be considering a settlement, which prompted Ruffalo's public appeal and calls for protests outside Bonta's Oakland office.
What are the antisemitism allegations against Mark Ruffalo?
The allegations arose after Ruffalo accused David Ellison and Larry Ellison of 'powering some of the most destructive and inhuman forces in the world,' a remark Paramount labelled antisemitic. Ruffalo denied the charge, stating that criticising executives over business and policy decisions is not the same as hostility toward Jewish people.
What could happen if the attorneys general settle the lawsuit?
A settlement could allow the Paramount-Skydance merger to proceed under negotiated conditions, potentially handing David Ellison significant control over Warner Bros. Discovery. Critics argue this would set a precedent for media consolidation without adequate public-interest safeguards.
How many people have opposed the merger publicly?
According to Ruffalo's post on X, more than 75,000 people had signed a petition opposing the deal within three weeks, and 5,670 filmmakers have reportedly backed the legal challenge to the merger.
