Paramount lawyer antisemitism controversy erupts after claims that some critics of the proposed Paramount-WBD merger hold antisemitic views

Makan Delrahim, chief legal officer of Paramount Global, has sparked controversy after suggesting that some opposition to the company’s proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery is driven by antisemitic views.

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Speaking in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Delrahim said critics of the proposed transaction were engaged in a political campaign aimed at undermining the deal.

“Let’s be honest. There’s a lot of fear-mongering, particularly from people in Washington, D.C. They are running a political campaign,” Delrahim said.

“Some of these people are trying to inflict harm on this transaction, really because of their own antisemitic views. Regulators and law enforcement officials will see right through that.”

The remarks immediately raised questions about whom Delrahim was referring to and why allegations of antisemitism had been introduced into a debate largely centred on regulatory and competition concerns.

Paramount reportedly declined to provide additional clarification on the comments, leaving observers to speculate about the basis for the claims.

One interpretation circulating among industry analysts is that Delrahim may have been referring to criticism directed at media executives Larry Ellison and David Ellison, who have publicly supported Israel and have previously faced criticism from activists over issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The issue surfaced previously after Paramount criticised a campaign urging creative professionals not to work with certain Israeli film organisations.

At the time, the company argued that the campaign amounted to the silencing of artists based on nationality.

That position prompted criticism from a group of anonymous Paramount employees, who accused the company of supporting policies they described as oppressive toward Palestinians.

The latest controversy comes as regulators continue to scrutinise the proposed merger, which would combine two of the world’s largest media companies and potentially reshape the entertainment and news industries.

Analysts have noted that concerns surrounding the transaction extend beyond political issues and include questions about media concentration, competition in film and television markets, and the implications of combining major news operations.

Some observers argue that linking opposition to the merger with allegations of antisemitism could complicate regulatory discussions by introducing a highly sensitive and polarising issue into an already complex approval process.

The proposed deal is expected to face review from regulators in multiple jurisdictions, with authorities assessing its potential impact on competition, media plurality and consumer choice.

While supporters view the merger as a strategic response to growing pressures in the global media industry, critics have raised concerns about its implications for independent journalism, content diversity and market competition.

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Delrahim’s comments have now added a fresh dimension to the debate, drawing attention away from traditional antitrust questions and toward broader political and cultural tensions surrounding the deal.