Kenneth Lonergan has taken a firm stand for Mark Ruffalo amid antisemitism accusations tied to his Israel-Gaza remarks. The Oscar-winning filmmaker and longtime friend of Ruffalo addressed the allegations in a letter to The Hollywood Reporter. He called the antisemitism accusation against Ruffalo “overtly preposterous” and said it was being used to silence his criticism of Israel.
Ruffalo’s latest controversy followed his criticism of Oracle founder Larry Ellison and the company’s reported ties to Israeli military technology. He also faced backlash from Paramount Skydance after criticizing the proposed Warner Bros. Discovery merger. The company accused him of using antisemitic tropes, but Ruffalo denied it and said he was criticizing political and corporate actions.
Kenneth Lonergan and Mark Ruffalo’s history goes back to You Can Count on Me
Lonergan’s relationship with Ruffalo dates back to You Can Count on Me, his 2000 directorial debut starring Laura Linney and Ruffalo. The film was widely praised and marked the beginning of their friendship, which has continued for decades.
Their long friendship led Lonergan to publicly defend the actor. In his letter, he referred to Ruffalo as his “dear friend for thirty years.” Lonergan called the antisemitism accusation “a cynical and disgusting lie” and questioned the motives behind it. He wants the Simon Wiesenthal Center to review its response and clarify where it detects any antisemitism.
Lonergan said that attacking Ruffalo personally helps critics avoid addressing his actual arguments. He also acknowledged that he “disagrees profoundly with many of his positions on the Middle East, Israel, Gaza, and Iran’s constellation of fanatical Islamic fundamentalist proxies.” However, Lonergan said people can disagree with Ruffalo’s views without labeling his criticism of Israel as antisemitic.
Meanwhile, Ruffalo has previously spoken about Israel and Gaza and has faced backlash for his comments. He has denied targeting Jewish people and said his criticism is about politics, not antisemitism. The actor has continued to speak out despite criticism from industry figures and organizations.
Lonergan’s statement adds a prominent Hollywood voice to the debate surrounding Ruffalo’s comments. For the filmmaker, the accusation against his longtime friend is unfair and distracts from the political issues Ruffalo has raised.
