California AG Rob Bonta targets David Ellison as Paramount dispute continues, saying the mogul cannot “flee accountability”

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter that he believes David Ellison, the Paramount executive and founder of Skydance, is trying to avoid accountability amid an ongoing legal dispute involving Paramount. Bonta’s remarks come as attorneys general and parties continue to litigate and argue over how corporate deals and related conduct should be handled under state law.

Bonta framed his criticism in sharp terms, telling the outlet that Ellison is “desperate” and “grasping at straws.” He also said Ellison “cannot flee accountability,” positioning his response as a rebuttal to what Bonta characterized as efforts to resist responsibility rather than resolve the dispute through the legal process.

The interview underscores the role of state enforcement in major media transactions, particularly when lawmakers and regulators argue that consumer impact, competition, and other public-interest issues are at stake. Bonta’s comments were directed at Ellison personally and at the strategy he believes is being pursued in the case rather than at broader commentary about the entertainment industry.

While Bonta did not describe a change to the case’s procedural posture in the interview, his remarks indicate the state’s continued posture of pushing for enforcement through litigation. The attorney general’s office has sought to ensure that disputes involving large media companies are subject to judicial review, rather than being resolved primarily through deal momentum and corporate timelines.

The Hollywood Reporter interview also highlights how prominent entertainment dealmakers are increasingly facing scrutiny not only from business rivals and investors, but from government officials concerned with how deals affect workers, audiences, and the public. In such disputes, public-facing statements can affect how stakeholders understand the government’s position, even as the ultimate determinations remain in court.

As the Paramount-related litigation proceeds, Bonta’s comments are likely to remain part of the public record surrounding the dispute. For media companies and their counterparties, the practical effect is that negotiations and internal planning can continue to be constrained by legal uncertainty, including the time and resources required to litigate claims in state and other proceedings.