Mark Ruffalo urges people to show up at California AG Rob Bonta’s office to protest Paramount settlement  

Mark Ruffalo is urging California attorney general Rob Bonta and a coalition of eleven other state AGs not to settle their lawsuit against Paramount Skydance, as the Avengers actor is pushing to keep David Ellison from acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery. Ruffalo took to social media to call on Bay Area residents to show up at Bonta's Oakland office. He shared,

"To my friends in the Bay Area: I'm hearing Rob Bonta is about to cave and hand Warner Bros over to the Ellisons. We can't let him do that. Can you show up outside his AG office in Oakland tomorrow at 5pm to reject this backroom deal? Reject the deal. The people don't want it!"

This wasn't the first time Ruffalo had spoken out on the matter. He had previously posted a strongly worded message directed at Bonta on X, writing,

"Don't you dare, [Rob Bonta], do not cave. 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!"

Rob Bonta and Paramount in advanced settlement talks as Ruffalo fights the Warner Bros. merger:

As per a report shared by Variety, Ruffalo is one of Hollywood's most outspoken stars opposing the merger. He recently found himself in a back-and-forth with Paramount, after a studio representative called him "antisemitic" for calling out the Ellisons' connection with Israel. Paramount Skydance's one hundred and eleven billion dollar deal for Warner Bros. was approved by the Department of Justice in June.

That being said, the deal was put on hold thanks to the antitrust lawsuit filed by Rob Bonta and his team of state AGs. As per a report shared by The Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous sources, Paramount Skydance and Bonta are now in "advanced talks" to reach a settlement.

Senator Elizabeth Warren joins Ruffalo in urging Rob Bonta to reject the Paramount settlement:

Ruffalo isn't the only one asking Rob Bonta to hold his ground. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts wrote on Facebook Saturday morning, drawing a direct line between President Donald Trump's decision to ban CNN from the White House and the dangers of allowing Paramount Skydance to absorb Warner Bros. Discovery. Trump had also banned Politico from the White House.

Warren wrote,

"As Trump tries to ban CNN from the White House, it would be a massive mistake to cave on the Paramount merger. The last thing we need is another Trump-controlled media conglomerate abusing its power to stomp out competition. This is a dangerous merger."

CNN also responded to the ban with a statement, sharing,

"Early today, CNN journalists were denied access to the White House grounds. CNN's mission to report on the U.S. government will continue regardless of any attempts to restrict physical access to the White House and other government buildings, or any other attempts to impede our journalism. We have a right under the U.S. Constitution to do our reporting without hindrance or interference from the government and this ban is an illegal assault on this fundamental right."

Rob Bonta responds to Paramount's California exit threat and addresses settlement talks:

Rob Bonta also made headlines this month when he was asked about Paramount's threat to leave California and the status of the suit during a panel at The Atlantic Festival at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in lower Manhattan. Bonta was joined on the panel by two Republican AGs, Pennsylvania's Dave Sunday and New Hampshire's John Formella.

Bonta reminded the audience that Paramount's threat to leave isn't new, but that the decision ultimately lies with the company.

"I can't comment on what a company decides to do, especially a company that has professed a commitment to Hollywood and to California. If they make that choice to leave, that is their choice and their choice alone. They own it. It lies at their feet," he shared.

Multiple states, including Texas and Tennessee, have courted Paramount as it weighs its options. Bonta also framed the effort to get the states to post a nearly one point nine billion dollar bond as

"an effort to manufacture, invent, generate leverage in the case, and we think they have no right to it,"

Trending

He added that he expects the judge in the case to agree with him, even as the Trump DOJ sides with Paramount. That being said, Bonta confirmed he remains open to a settlement, as long as the state gets an outcome it desires.

"We will do our job. We have a job to enforce the law without fear, without favor, and at the same time, we are always open to coming to the table if it is in good faith and is sincere. And we will always explore an opportunity to get the results that we want based on our evaluation of the case at the table," he said.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback