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What is Mark Ruffalo's religion? Actor apologizes for suggesting Israel committed 'genocide': 'Just shut up'

'It’s not accurate, it’s inflammatory, disrespectful & is being used to justify antisemitism here & abroad,' Ruffalo wrote in his apology tweet

Actor Mark Ruffalo has landed himself in a soup after his controversial remarks on the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. The 'Avengers' actor issued an apology on Twitter for suggesting that Israel is committing a 'genocide', after he invited considerable flak for a string of tweets and retweets that slammed Israel for the recent flare-up in the Middle East. Though it's not clear the exact tweet he was apologizing for.

"I have reflected & wanted to apologize for posts during the recent Israel/Hamas fighting that suggested Israel is committing “genocide”. It’s not accurate, it’s inflammatory, disrespectful & is being used to justify antisemitism here & abroad. Now is the time to avoid hyperbole," he later tweeted, admitting his mistake and apologizing. 

However, not all Twitter users were satisfied with Ruffalo's apology, as they continued to criticize him. "And that, kids, is why you should never idolize celebrities," one user tweeted in response to his apology. 

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What is Mark Ruffalo's religion?

Ruffalo's problematic remark about Israel, and indirectly the Jewish community residing there, has raised a lot of questions about his faith and religious beliefs. Though not much is known about Mark Ruffalo's religious beliefs, it has been reported by Celeb Answers that he is a lapsed Catholic. His grandmother was a born-again Christian while his father Frank Lawrence Ruffalo Jr had converted to the Baháʼí faith.

In an interview with Religion News about his movie 'Dark Waters', Ruffalo admitted being raised "with a good part of the Middle East basically in my household - Catholicism, a Baha’i father, a “born-again Christian” grandmother." 

Growing up in Wisconsin, he attended both Catholic and progressive schools. Later in life, Ruffalo studied under actress Stella Adler, who was a devout Jewish. He acknowledged her influence in his ideas - as she taught him why it is an artist's responsibility to amplify the voices of the unheard. (Adler) really believed in the Talmudic principle of questioning and being aware,” Ruffalo had recalled.  

It is believed by many that he drifted from the church as an adult. Presently, Ruffalo identifies himself as an activist for the environment, for peace, and for social justice. 

'Stay out of what you know very little about'

Riled social media users lashed out at Ruffalo asking him to 'shut up' even after he issued the apology. 

"Celebrities really gotta start shutting up. Like y’all so weak minded and are using your platform in such a dangerous way. Like seriously just shut up," a user tweeted about him. 

"So using precise language matters to mark ruffalo when he's using this app to defend chris pratt from accusations of "worst chris," like that shit f**king matters, but NOT when it comes to rightfully describing what is happening to palestinians as a genocide. real allyship, bud," another responded to his tweet. 

A third user reacted, "Youre a disgrace and the cause of hate attacks towards Jews stay out of what you know very little about."

Politician Jason Kishineff wrote, "Hey, Mark. I love and respect your activism, but take it from a Jew, the term genocide is fitting since it is indeed the aim of Zionism to remove every Arab from the land, which has been done by ethnic cleansing and mass murders."

There was also a section of Twitterati who appreciated Ruffalo's apology and acknowledged his intent to rethink his words.