Mark Ruffalo speaks up, Olivia Rodrigo's new song, Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz teams up

Mark Ruffalo refutes Paramount’s ‘antisemitism’ accusations

Mark Ruffalo is firing back at Paramount Skydance after the company accused him of using antisemitic rhetoric while criticizing its proposed Warner Bros. Discovery merger.

The actor rejected the characterization, arguing that his comments were aimed at corporate and political actions rather than Jewish people.

“Criticizing the actions of the Israeli prime minister, a military technology contract, or the executives who supply it is not the same as criticizing Jewish people,” Ruffalo wrote on X. He called Paramount’s response “appalling and fundamentally dishonest.”

The controversy began after Ruffalo shared a post from the Palestinian-led BDS movement discussing Oracle’s relationship with Israel and comments made by Oracle executive Safra Catz about the company’s support for the Israeli military.

Ruffalo connected those concerns to the proposed $111 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. deal, warning that the merger could affect competition, employment and media independence. He also urged his followers to oppose the transaction.

“This merger has real consequences for real people, and for the entire country,” he asserted. “The $111 billion deal would hand one family control over CNN, HBO and Warner Bros., backed in part by foreign money whose influence on editorial decisions has never been fully explained to the public.”

Paramount responded that references to “genocide” and “apartheid” in connection with the merger were inappropriate and said it was concerned about antisemitic tropes being used during a business dispute.

“This critical and necessary dialogue is then dishonestly framed as being anti-Israel. To be clear, my views come from my own political convictions and should never be interpreted as hostility toward Jewish people, for whom I have deep love and respect,” Ruffalo countered.

The merger remains subject to ongoing legal and regulatory scrutiny.

Olivia Rodrigo drops new song “Serena Joy”

Olivia Rodrigo has revived a song that narrowly missed her latest album, giving fans an exclusive first taste ahead of her upcoming festival.

The pop star quietly released “Serena Joy” on Friday, Aug. 21, with just 500 CDs made available through Analog Music Shop in Tustin, California. The limited run disappeared almost immediately, with the independent retailer confirming that every copy had been sold.

The track draws inspiration from The Handmaid’s Tale and was recorded during sessions for Rodrigo’s third album, You Look Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love. Although the song ultimately failed to make the record, Rodrigo previously explained why she remains fond of it.

“I actually really love [‘Serena Joy’]. It didn’t fit on the album,” she said, describing the album as a story tracing a relationship from beginning to end.

The special release also connects Rodrigo to her hometown music community, as the record shop praised her support for independent retailers.

Rodrigo will headline Daisy Chain Fields on Aug. 29 in Irvine, where she will perform alongside Chappell Roan, Doechii, Mitski, Garbage, The Breeders and Bikini Kill.

Chris Brown’s ex-housekeeper wins damages after dog attack

Chris Brown’s music earnings are now at the center of a long-running legal battle over an unpaid $13 million judgment.

A Los Angeles judge has authorized Maria Avila, a housekeeper who won a multimillion-dollar award against Brown following a 2020 dog attack, to pursue money from the singer’s touring revenue and music royalties. The decision could give Avila a direct route toward collecting the damages awarded by a jury.

Avila was attacked while taking out trash at Brown’s Tarzana home in December 2020. The singer’s 200-pound guard dog, Hades, reportedly inflicted devastating injuries, including facial damage, vision problems and nerve injuries that required reconstructive treatment.

After a two-week trial, jurors determined Brown and his company, Black Pyramid LLC, were responsible for negligence. Avila received approximately $12.9 million, while additional damages were awarded to family members for emotional distress.

Brown testified that he had obtained the dog for protection from stalkers and acknowledged leaving the property before emergency responders arrived, citing concerns about a “media circus.”

The latest ruling comes as Brown continues performing on a major stadium tour with Usher. The tour has already generated more than $100 million from its opening shows, putting substantial entertainment income within the scope of the collection effort.

“This case has always been about accountability, not celebrity,” Avila’s attorney Nancy Doumanian said.

Serena Williams teams up with Carlos Alcaraz for the U.S. Open

Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz will have to wait until the U.S. Open’s mixed doubles qualifying tournament concludes before discovering who stands between them and a place in the quarterfinals.

The tennis icons were handed a wild card into the revamped 16-team event, with organizers drawing them against one of eight teams competing in Monday’s qualifier. Their opening match is scheduled for Tuesday, when the first round and quarterfinals will both be contested.

The pairing gives Williams an opportunity to make her long-awaited return to the U.S. Open. The six-time singles champion has not competed at the tournament since 2022. Alcaraz, meanwhile, enters as a two-time men’s singles champion.

Their potential opponents could present a serious challenge, as the qualifying field largely consists of doubles specialists. The format was introduced this year after last season’s changes prioritized singles rankings and left many doubles players without opportunities.

Elsewhere, top seeds Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka will face Leylah Fernandez and Frances Tiafoe. Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz are seeded second and will meet Diana Shnaider and Casper Ruud.

The mixed doubles champion will earn a $1 million prize, with the semifinals and championship match scheduled for Wednesday.

ICYMI:

• The Jonas Brothers have expanded their sold-out Madison Square Garden run into the The Burning Up Tour: All Over Again, taking the celebration on the road with a 45-city North American arena tour. Tickets for the newly announced tour are now on sale, giving fans across the continent the chance to see the trio bring their nostalgic hits and live show to arenas nationwide.

• “American Doctor” has earned a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 31 reviews. The film follows three American doctors from Palestinian, Jewish, and Zoroastrian backgrounds who travel to Gaza to provide medical aid before returning to the United States, where they bring their experiences to Congress and advocate for the people they left behind.

— Bea Bertuldo

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