Mark Ruffalo criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom following Paramount’s settlement that clears the path for its significant $81 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.
“Gavin Newsom hands huge win to Trump and his billionaire cronies,” the “Avengers” actor posted on X.
Ruffalo’s comments were in response to former FTC commissioner Alvaro Bedoya, who expressed disapproval of this latest turn in the prolonged Paramount saga.
“Today, billionaires have yet again bribed, censored, and bullied their way to the top,” Bedoya stated. “As a result, a billionaire media conglomerate closely allied with the president will soon own one of its closest rivals, including some of the nation’s most critical news outlets.”
This backlash followed Paramount reaching a deal with California Attorney General Rob Bonta and other states that aimed to block the Warner Bros. Discovery merger on antitrust concerns.
Newsom reportedly cautioned that California jobs could be at risk if the merger was halted in court. Meanwhile, Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison thanked the governor after the deal was announced.
Ellison remarked, “Our goal has always been to build a stronger Hollywood – one with more stories told, greater choice for consumers and stronger competition.”
According to the settlement, Paramount committed to invest an additional $1.5 billion in domestic production over the next five years and to release at least 30 movies in theaters each year, increasing to 32 after two years.
The agreement also includes provisions for independent editorial boards for CBS News and CNN, along with initiatives to boost domestic film production.
Bonta emphasized that this settlement didn’t equate to an endorsement of the merger.
“This settlement is not a vote of support for this merger. It is not a blessing of the broader merger,” he stated on Monday.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass reiterated her opposition to the consolidation of two major Hollywood studios but insisted the focus now should be on protecting local workers.
“I do not want to see two of Hollywood’s largest studios consolidated under one company, but now we must focus on holding the companies accountable to these commitments to keep productions on L.A. stages, crews on sets, and ensure paychecks for hardworking Angelenos,” Bass remarked.
She mentioned that the court-enforceable agreement includes commitments to local production, existing collective bargaining agreements, and workforce training, following months of uncertainty surrounding the merger.
“I will continue bringing labor, industry, and government together, using every tool we have to protect L.A. jobs and keep film and television production in Los Angeles,” she added.
SAG-AFTRA also released a statement via social media, expressing their intent to maintain a professional relationship with Paramount. “We hope that the process of engaging with the attorneys general has impressed upon them the fact that in addition to collective bargaining, our members rely on the law to help protect our interests. These are the lowest standards that our employers must meet,” they said.
The merger would unify HBO Max, Paramount+, HBO, CBS, CNN, and thousands of movie titles under one entity led by Ellison, the son of Oracle billionaire and Trump associate Larry Ellison.
The deal received approval from President Trump’s Justice Department back in June, prior to Bonta and 11 other state attorneys general attempting to block it the following month.
This settlement with the states effectively removes a significant hurdle for the completion of the massive merger.
