{
  "id": 3346443,
  "title": "Haim Saban, Lawrence Bender and Other Industry Figures Condemn Mark Ruffalo’s ‘Antisemitic Tropes’ in Open Letter",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/haim-saban-lawrence-bender-and-other-industry-figures-condemn-mark",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-25T20:59:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TheWrap",
    "slug": "thewrap",
    "url": "https://www.thewrap.com/industry-news/business/haim-saban-lawrence-bender-and-other-industry-figures-condemn-mark-ruffalo-antisemitic-tropes-in-open-letter/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A coalition of prominent industry professionals, among them Ram Bergman, Anthony Bregman, Haim Saban, Teddy Schwarzman, and Lawrence Bender, penned an open letter denouncing Mark Ruffalo's remarks regarding the Ellison family and the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger. The letter alleges that Ruffalo's statements promote \"antisemitic tropes.\" The group, representing nearly 1,000 members and allies from film, television, music, Broadway, and other entertainment platforms, vehemently condemns the use of antisemitic tropes and narratives by individuals who employ them for hate speech against Jews. The letter asserts that the portrayal of Jewish executives as a clandestine, wealthy, and powerful elite indulging in mass death constitutes a form of antisemitism, akin to the rhetoric utilized by Nazis, Soviets, and the Klan. The actor sparked controversy by dismissing the merger in part due to the Ellison family's connections to Israel's \"genocide\" in Gaza. Paramount responded swiftly, labeling Ruffalo's remarks \"antisemitic\" and denouncing them as \"a bridge too far.\" Ruffalo later clarified that his views stem from his personal political beliefs and should not be misconstrued as hostility towards Jewish people, emphasizing that his family and friends have profoundly influenced his life.",
  "summary": "“This is not commentary on a merger. It is not a criticism of a government. This is simple antisemitism,” the letter reads The post Haim Saban, Lawrence Bender and Other Industry Figures Condemn Mark Ruffalo’s ‘Antisemitic Tropes’ in Open Letter appeared first on TheWrap .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Variety",
        "title": "Haim Saban, Teddy Schwarzman and Lawrence Bender Among Those Condemning ‘Antisemitic’ Tropes in Mark Ruffalo’s Paramount Discourse: It ‘Puts Our Community in Grave Danger’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/haim-saban-teddy-schwarzman-and-lawrence-bender-among-those",
        "published": "2026-08-25T19:30:12.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}