John Cusack has spoken out in support of Mark Ruffalo amid his dispute with Paramount. The Say Anything actor shared a message backing Ruffalo after the company accused him of invoking antisemitic tropes. Actor Paul Walter Hauser also showed support for Ruffalo as the controversy continued online.
John Cusack reposted Ruffalo’s statement and wrote ‘Solidarity – well said’ after the Paramount dispute
esponding to Paramount’s comments. Cusack wrote, “Solidarity – well said.” His message expressed support for Ruffalo during the public dispute.
Ruffalo was also supported by Hauser on Sunday, Aug. 23. He shared a screenshot on Instagram that said, “MARK RUFFALO If you think that Mark Ruffalo is antisemitic, you are an actual moron.” Hauser also included a red heart emoji in his caption. He described Ruffalo as being “hyper-intelligent, empathetic and talented.”
The conflict started when Ruffalo criticized the Ellison family over the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger. He compared Larry Ellison, Oracle’s former CEO, to a “classic Oligarch.” Larry owns a controlling interest in Paramount, which his son, David Ellison, manages. Paramount then responded to Ruffalo’s comments.
According to Variety, a Paramount spokesperson said the company was “troubled when antisemitic tropes are invoked” in a business dispute. The spokesperson also said words such as “genocide” and “apartheid” should not apply to a corporate transaction. Paramount stated that such language was incorrect and “a bridge too far.” The company also stated that it has no tolerance for prejudice against any person.
Ruffalo later pushed back against Paramount’s claims. Cusack and Hauser then publicly backed the actor. The controversy has been ongoing and has garnered interest from some stars. Ruffalo currently stars in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
