Actor Mark Ruffalo has thrown his weight behind the ongoing antitrust litigation challenging the proposed merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery, urging California Attorney General Rob Bonta to stand firm against a potential settlement.
Writing on the social media platform X, Ruffalo issued a direct appeal to Bonta, stating, “Don’t you dare… do not cave.” The actor highlighted significant grassroots opposition to the deal, noting that 5,670 filmmakers have risked their careers to support the lawsuit and that over 75,000 individuals have signed petitions against the merger in just three 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,” Ruffalo wrote. “Please sign to send a message to the AGs and Paramount. Reject the deal. The people don’t want it!”
The legal battle has made Ruffalo one of Hollywood’s most visible critics of the transaction. In a recent exchange, a Paramount representative accused the actor of antisemitism after he drew attention to the Ellison family’s connections with Israel. Despite the controversy, Ruffalo’s stance aligns with growing political concern over media consolidation.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon approved the $111 billion acquisition in June, but the deal remains blocked by the antitrust suit filed by Bonta and a coalition of 11 other state attorneys general. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal on Friday, Paramount Skydance and Bonta are currently engaged in “advanced talks” regarding a potential settlement.
Beyond the entertainment industry, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts also called on Bonta to resist pressure to settle. Writing on Facebook, Warren drew parallels between the media merger and recent administrative actions regarding press access.
“As Trump tries to ban CNN from the White House, it would be a massive mistake to cave on the Paramount merger,” Warren wrote, referencing President Donald Trump’s decision to bar CNN from White House events, a move that also affected MSNOW and Politico. “The last thing we need is another Trump-controlled media conglomerate abusing its power to stomp out competition. This is a dangerous merger.”
As negotiations continue, both industry professionals and politicians are watching closely to see whether California will pursue the lawsuit to trial or accept a revised agreement with Paramount Skydance.
Honestly, I hope Bonta ignores the pressure. An $111 billion merger shouldn’t go through without real competition.
I’m curious about these ‘advanced talks.’ Are they actually trying to settle, or just buying time until the next court date?
Over 5,000 filmmakers signing their careers away? That is a staggering number. The industry is clearly in crisis.
Wait, did a Paramount rep really call him antisemitic? That seems like a desperate distraction from the antitrust issues.
This is exactly why we need public figures like Ruffalo to speak up. Media consolidation hurts everyone.