Actor Mark Ruffalo criticized the Paramount-Warner merger in a recent editorial.
In an editorial he co-wrote with author Matt Stoller, the Avengers star noted that his attempt to gather thousands of signatures for an open letter opposing the merger revealed people’s fears about workplace retaliation.
“What stood out in that letter wasn’t just the names of those who signed it, but the many who didn’t. It wasn’t that they disagreed; they were scared,” Ruffalo explained.
“There are numerous reasons to oppose this deal, but the most crucial is the fear artists face when considering whether to voice their opinions: a deep, pervasive fear of speaking out,” he continued.
Ruffalo added that “this merger will inflict significant damage on Hollywood, one effect being that individuals are hesitant to express their thoughts about the industry.”
“It’s worth mentioning that over 4,000 artists are ready to sign a letter urging state attorneys general to block the merger, and more are joining every day,” he noted.
“It’s also important when elected officials, from California Attorney General Rob Bonta to New Jersey Senator Cory Booker to New York Mayor Zoran Mamdani, raise their voices, hold hearings, and start investigations,” he remarked.
Ruffalo also referred to legal challenges against media and tech giants, including a federal judge who halted the Nexstar-Tegna merger and recent jury verdicts against Meta and Google in relation to social media’s impact on young people.
“The oligarchy remains, but it’s starting to lose its grip on power,” the actor stated in his op-ed, calling for collective action to alleviate people’s fears.
“We’ve witnessed the consequences of monopolistic corporations profiting from the silence of dissent,” he said. “However, the growth of our coalition shows that we can achieve change if we unite, take action, and refuse to accept the status quo.”
