California AG Rob Bonta leads a push to block a potential merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. Charlie Gasparino analyzes the regulatory battle, while actor Mark Ruffalo urges officials to stop the deal.
Actor Mark Ruffalo is ramping up pressure on California Attorney General Rob Bonta amid reports of settlement talks over the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, warning the Democrat not to “cave” and urging supporters to rally outside his Oakland office.
“Don’t you dare @AGRobBonta, do not cave,” Ruffalo wrote Saturday on X.
Ruffalo’s lobbying comes as the massive transaction remains on hold under a court agreement and Paramount CEO David Ellison clashes with Bonta and 11 other state attorneys general over the company’s proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
In July, the states sued to block the deal, arguing it would reduce competition and give the combined company excessive market power in film distribution and basic cable programming.
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Actor Mark Ruffalo urged California Attorney General Rob Bonta not to “cave” amid reported settlement talks over the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger. (Hoda Davaine/Getty Images)
As the megadeal remains on hold, Ellison has reportedly threatened to move Paramount to Texas, Tennessee or Georgia if the dispute is not resolved by Oct. 1. The lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial in March if a settlement is not reached.
Settlement negotiations remain ongoing.
Ruffalo strongly urged Bonta to reject any settlement that would allow the transaction to move forward. He cited thousands of filmmakers and tens of thousands of petition signatures opposing the merger.
“You work for the people — the very people who will be hurt if you let this lousy deal filled with empty promises go forward,” Ruffalo wrote. “Please sign to send a message to the AG’s and Paramount. Reject the deal. The people don’t want it!”
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California Attorney General Rob Bonta believes Paramount’s planned takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery is simply “an illegal merger.” (AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images / Getty Images)
In a follow-up post, Ruffalo called on Bay Area opponents of the merger to gather outside Bonta’s Oakland office.
“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?” Ruffalo wrote.
The Block the Merger Coalition, which says more than 75,000 people have joined its campaign opposing concessions, argued that a settlement based on unenforceable promises would not adequately address its concerns.
“The rumored ‘deal’ to usher the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger forward is an insult to everyone who has stood up against this harmful transaction and to the hundreds of thousands of workers, journalists, and consumers who will be hurt if it goes forward,” the organization said in a statement.
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California Attorney General Rob Bonta and 11 other state attorneys general sued to block Paramount’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. (Sarah Reingewirtz/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images / Getty Images)
“Let’s be very clear: an agreement based only on unenforceable concessions is a win only for David Ellison. It is an L for everyone else.”
The Hollywood fight isn’t entirely one-sided. Spencer Pratt, who ran for governor of California, criticized Ruffalo’s position, arguing that blocking the transaction could hurt rank-and-file film workers.
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Bonta’s office previously addressed reports that Paramount has raised the possibility of moving operations out of California.
“It’s no secret that Paramount has been making this threat despite its alleged commitment to California and Hollywood,” Bonta’s office told FOX Business.
“What Paramount decides to do is Paramount’s choice alone,” his office added.
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FOX Business has reached out to Bonta’s office for comment.
FOX Business’ Stepheny Price and Lorraine Taylor contributed to this report.
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