A creator once known for mocking religion now lifts his voice in support of the Jewish people.
He stands largely isolated within the entertainment industry.
Bill Maher’s 2010 film “Religulous” employed satire to critique Christianity and other traditions, reflecting his atheistic perspective and sharp wit.
Currently, Maher remains one of the few mainstream late-night voices addressing the alarming surge in antisemitism, particularly within left-wing circles.
He reiterated the point during Friday’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” broadcast.
BILL MAHER on Dem politicians: “As long as [your] faith isn’t Jewish, you’re good.”
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) August 22, 2026
CNN’s chief political correspondent Dana Bash noted that Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico wears his faith openly, believing it will aid his campaign. Maher responded, “Well, in the Democratic Party, as long as that faith isn’t Jewish, you’re good.”
When Bash pressed him, noting “you said it,” Maher replied that he stated it “because it’s true.”
The press secretary just telling the truth, as always. pic.twitter.com/DDhC41zLBR
— JP Sears (@AwakenWithJP) August 15, 2026
Tucker Carlson: “Israel is the most evil, genocidal state that controls America.”
VS.
Also Tucker Carlson: “But I’m not attacking Israel.” pic.twitter.com/aMjILopQh0— Nathan Livingstone (MilkBarTV) (@TheMilkBarTV) June 12, 2026
Maher has drawn attention to the insufficient response against rising antisemitism and its entrenched presence within the Democratic Party. Right-leaning commentators such as Candace Owens, Tucker Carlson, and J.P. Sears have also engaged with antisemitic tropes, though they remain outside the mainstream GOP.
This statement by Mark Ruffalo is profoundly shocking. This crosses the line from merger opposition to incitement: “Look how she revels in what we now have come to see as a genocide, which was built on an apartheid system of oppression powered by Oracle.”
— Sharon Waxman (follow me on Threads @sharonwaxman (@sharonwaxman) August 21, 2026
The “Avengers” actor is among Hollywood’s most prominent pro-Palestinian voices. As is often the case with that subset, the rhetoric can extend criticism beyond the Israeli state.
The actor shared a video of Oracle Executive Vice Chair Safra Catz discussing the company’s assistance to Israel after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attacks. “Look how she revels in what we now have come to see as a genocide, which was built on an apartheid system of oppression powered by Oracle,” Ruffalo wrote on his social media channels.
Team Paramount responded swiftly, accusing the star of propagating antisemitic language.
Paramount’s statement reads: “We are troubled when antisemitic tropes are invoked in purported service of a business dispute. Words like ‘genocide’ and ‘apartheid,’ applied to a corporate transaction, aren’t just wrong — they’re a bridge too far, and they cheapen the very real suffering those words are meant to describe.”
Veteran Hollywood journalist Sharon Waxman, founder of TheWrap.com, directly called out Ruffalo.
This statement by Mark Ruffalo is profoundly shocking. This crosses the line from merger opposition to incitement: “Look how she revels in what we now have come to see as a genocide, which was built on an apartheid system of oppression powered by Oracle.”
— Sharon Waxman (follow me on Threads @sharonwaxman (@sharonwaxman) August 21, 2026
Ruffalo quickly shared a defense of his remarks on social media.
Mark Ruffalo Rejects Paramount’s Claim His Anti-Merger Comments Were “Antisemitic”: “My Views Should Never Be Interpreted as Hostility Toward …
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) August 23, 2026
The rise of antisemitism is now being discussed across cultural platforms. Its emergence in late-night and A-list circles suggests greater attention ahead.
However, many prominent figures continue to either amplify the hatred or remain conspicuously silent.