Mark Ruffalo Condemns Approved Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger as Threat to Free Speech

Mark Ruffalo has renewed his opposition to the Paramount and Warner Bros. merger following Wednesday’s announcement that the deal has been approved and is tentatively scheduled to close next week. The actor took to social media to voice his concerns about the industry consolidation.

“This merger will stifle creativity, weaken free speech, and cost people their jobs — it is a bad deal for this country and should never have been approved,” Ruffalo wrote in a statement posted to Threads. He acknowledged the disappointment felt by the widespread grassroots opposition but emphasized that the movement remains active. “This is an incredibly disappointing outcome for the hundreds of thousands of us who stood up to block it, but it’s also not the end. This grassroots movement isn’t going to fade away and neither is our resolve.”

Ruffalo framed the conflict as part of a broader struggle against wealthy billionaires prioritizing their own financial interests over those of everyday people. “This was never about just one merger: this was about fighting back against corrupt oligarch billionaires trampling the interests of everyday people to line their own pockets. We’re still in that fight. Join us,” he added.

Earlier this month, Ruffalo had urged California Attorney General Rob Bonta and a coalition of 11 other state attorneys general to avoid settling their lawsuit against Paramount Skydance. The settlement would have cleared the path for David Ellison to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. Ruffalo publicly pleaded with Bonta not to concede, highlighting the support from the creative community.

“Don’t you dare, [Rob Bonta], do not cave,” Ruffalo wrote on X. “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!”