‘Crime 101’ Star Mark Ruffalo Says Hollywood Stars Refused to Sign Open Letter Against Paramount-WB Merger Over Fears of Studio Blacklisting

Mark Ruffalo says many actors and filmmakers in Hollywood are scared to publicly speak out against the proposed merger between Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery.

In a new opinion piece published by the New York Times, Ruffalo and American Economic Liberties Project research director Matt Stoller said fear played a major role in why many well-known Hollywood names refused to sign an open letter opposing the merger.

“The most revealing thing about that letter wasn’t the people who signed. It was the people who didn’t. Not because they disagreed — because they were afraid,” Ruffalo and Stoller wrote.

According to the op-ed, many actors, directors and industry professionals privately supported the campaign but worried they could face backlash or lose future opportunities if they publicly criticized the deal.

“There are many reasons to block this deal, but we now believe the most fundamental one is what we encountered when asking artists to use their voices: fear. A deep, ugly and pervasive fear of speaking out,” they added.

The open letter first appeared in April and has collected more than 4,000 signatures. Supporters include actors such as Florence Pugh, Pedro Pascal and Edward Norton, along with directors including Sofia Coppola, Denis Villeneuve and Yorgos Lanthimos.

Ruffalo and Stoller also shared examples they claim show how sensitive the topic has become inside the entertainment industry.

According to the article, The Ankler allegedly lost advertising support from Paramount after its editorial director attended an event carrying “Block the Merger” buttons.

The op-ed also claimed Ruffalo was considered for a CNN segment discussing the merger, but the appearance never happened because of concerns tied to Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns CNN.

“It’s a delicate subject for us at CNN given Warner Bros. Discovery is our parent company, and there are legal considerations around what we can and cannot cover or say while the merger is ongoing,” a producer reportedly told organizers behind the letter.

The group opposing the merger says the deal would further reduce competition in Hollywood and make it harder for creators and workers across the entertainment business.

The letter states, “This transaction would further consolidate an already concentrated media landscape, reducing competition at a moment when our industries — and the audiences we serve — can least afford it.”

The statement also warns the merger could lead to fewer jobs, fewer creative opportunities and fewer choices for viewers around the world. If approved, the merger would reduce the number of major U.S. film studios to four.

Ruffalo and Stoller ended their article by encouraging more people in Hollywood to speak openly about the issue.

“We’ve seen what happens when monopoly-leaning companies benefit from a fear that silences dissent,” they wrote. “But our growing coalition is demonstrating that when we don’t get stuck on the sidelines, don’t bow down to inevitability and join together to fight, we can win.”

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