Mark Ruffalo to NBC, MSNBC: ‘Stop the white conservative hiring spree’

Actor and activist Mark Ruffalo is urging fans to sign a petition demanding NBC News stop hiring white conservatives for on-air positions. 

“Sign the petition: Tell @MSNBC @NBCNews to stop the white conservative hiring spree,” Mr. Ruffalo tweeted to his more 3.19 million followers over the weekend.

Sign the petition: Tell @MSNBC @NBCNews to stop the white conservative hiring spree https://t.co/CQGV7zRHWr via @CREDOMobile #p2

— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) June 10, 2017 

Ruffalo, who co-starred in “Spotlight,” which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2015 for its depiction of the Boston Globe’s Pulitzer-winning investigative reporting on sexual child abuse in the Catholic church, specifically targets NBC News President Andy Lack in the petition.

“Lack has pushed out Black and Brown talent including Melissa Harris-Perry, Alex Wagner, Touré Neblett, Dorian Warren, Michael Eric Dyson, Adam Howard, Jamil Smith, Jose Diaz-Balart and Tamron Hall,” Ruffalo’s petition reads.

“In fact, Lack has a history of replacing Black on-air personalities wherever he goes. America needs voices like these now more than ever, and we need to make it clear to Lack that we are paying attention and there will be consequences.

“Tell NBC executives: Stop the white conservative hiring spree at MSNBC.” 

The petition also notes the relatively recent hires of Megyn Kelly, Greta Van Susteren, George Will and Hugh Hewitt, who will, or already do, host their own programs. Kelly’s two programs are on and slated for NBC. 

Ruffalo, who also plays “The Hulk” for Marvel Studios, received some blowback on social media for the petition. 

Let’s petition @MarvelStudios to stop hiring ignorant “white liberals” who discriminate like @MarkRuffalo did in tweet against conservatives https://t.co/I0QpmHBRwg

— Wayne Dupree (@WayneDupreeShow) June 13, 2017

Diversity and tolerance apparently not part of the Hulk’s platform.

— chad counts (@crcounts) June 10, 2017

Imagine a petition telling anyone not to hire black liberals.
Explain how your racist posting isn’t discrimination due to a skin color.

— greybeard (@greybeard411) June 12, 2017 

MSNBC has enjoyed a ratings surge since President Trump’s election, finishing a close second to Fox News in May, while 9 p.m. host Rachel Maddow finished as the most-watched cable news program for the month.