Please Stop Talking

Warner Bros. has been in a precarious situation for some time, both with internal management and external prospects. Internally, they’ve had a CEO who keeps making bad decisions for tax write-offs, diluting the studio’s value permanently. Externally, they’ve been bounced around in hopes that their new overlords will save them. Whether it was AT&T or Discovery, it hasn’t worked out for them. And now, amidst a bidding war with Netflix and Paramount, it seems like their bad fortune is coming to a climax. Because they’re about to be bought by a studio run by a CEO with questionable objectives.

Don’t take my word for it, though. David Ellison’s purchase of WB has raised red flags from both Hollywood and politicians across The US, all of whom feel this is disastrous long-term. Without getting into the nitty-gritty, there’s a class-action lawsuit to stop this merger from being finalized. It makes sense, monopolies aren’t good for creativity, but while this is worrying for most people, Ellison’s been quite vocal about the backlash. He recently complained that people were criticizing him because he’s Jewish, calling this Antisemitism on the part of detractors. No joke.

There’s a lot I could say here, but I’ll be diplomatic. However, I do think Ellison needs to stop talking. Not only does he diminish the real and dangerous rise in Antisemitic violence, this also ignores how the Ellisons are one of the richest families globally, and that David Ellison only owns Paramount because his dad, Larry Ellison, purchased it. That’s not Antisemitic to point out. And while associating Jews with dark money is classic Antisemitism, in this case it fits.

It’s also a problem because the Ellisons are Trump donors, and they have an in with shady figures. It doesn’t help that David Ellison has made it his mission to blacklist celebrities expressing support for Palestinians, as evidenced by Melissa Barrera. Ellison’s arguing in bad faith, and I have to call him out. Especially since, and I hate saying this, as a Jew myself it’s unhelpful in countering real Antisemitism. I shouldn’t have to mention that, but I am.

For those who’d claim I’m crying wolf, I ask that you stop talking too. Antisemitism is real and growing. A few months ago, some punks drove by my synagogue and unloaded eight bullets into the entrance. Fortunately, no one was injured. But that’s one example in my home city alone. It speaks to the real threat that’s been downplayed and ignored by those in power.

So yes, Antisemitism’s a concern. And ignoring it isn’t helping. Which is why it’s dangerous that a CEO of a Hollywood studio is falling back on it as a defense against legitimate criticism. It’s also petty, enough that J-Street has called it out. It’s sad when a Jewish lobby is on your case, but here we are.

What can be done here? The obvious solution is for Ellison to apologize, as well as to back down from this merger. But since that’s not happening, I don’t know what to do. I’d suggest a boycott of Paramount, but that’d harm the artists and craftspeople who are employed by the studio. For now, all we can do is hope the lawsuit surrounding this merger follows through and mucks up the process. Because it’s bad for Hollywood.

As for those who’d diminish the real dangers of Antisemitism, please stop. It might not impact you directly, but Jews are scared and distrustful of our gentile allies. We’re scared because you don’t have our best interests at heart, and we’re distrustful because we know many of you don’t care. You’re also so absorbed in defending Palestinians that you won’t acknowledge the genuine harm you’re doing to that cause. And your tokenism of Jewish voices is equally unhelpful.

I don’t like this merger either. I think David Ellison will end up with way too much power, and he’s the last person I’d want as CEO of two Hollywood studios. He’s also a billionaire, and he has ties to really shady people. Owning both Paramount and Warner Bros. would also limit creativity, not unlike what happened when Disney purchased 20th Century Fox. This is all bad.

However, none of this is bad because Ellison’s Jewish. Nor is it an excuse to brush off actual Antisemitism. Ellison’s Jewishness is incidental to him being a billionaire with a twisted agenda, and it’s high-time these two facts are acknowledged. It’d not only make being critical of this merger easier, it’d also make tackling Antisemitism less challenging. And isn’t that more important?

As for Ellison’s remarks? Sorry buddy, but you need to do better. People aren’t criticizing you because you’re Jewish, they’re criticizing you because you’re not helping anything. You’re also hurting your credibility by relying on this obvious crutch. So stop it. If you keep your mouth shut, which I know is hard, and let this lawsuit happen, you’ll do everyone a favour. And besides, if you’ve really done nothing wrong, then you’ll come out of this debacle unscathed. Isn’t that what you want?