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We’ve seen Avengers star Mark Ruffalo support the Palestinian cause on numerous occasions, which is why his latest statements featuring an Islamophobic comparison are not sitting well with us or his followers.

The actor is facing the heat for ignorant comments made in condemnation of Project 25 — a collection of right-wing policy proposals aimed at ‘reshaping the American government’. “Project 2025 is not a game, it’s white Christian nationalism,” he said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday, referring to the policy agenda developed by American think tank The Heritage Foundation.

“It is the Sharia Law of the ‘Christian’ crazy people who aren’t Christian at all but want to control every aspect of your life through their narrow and exclusionary interpretation of Christ’s egalitarian, inclusive, and kindly teachings… Forced birth and forced religion. Trump’s American Taliban,” the Hollywood star added.

Needless to say, several X users have since been schooling Ruffalo for using Islamic terms to refer to extremism in the West, accusing him of Islamophobia. Many are acknowledging the actor’s comments are misguided and misinformed, as opposed to having actual malicious intent behind them. Regardless of the intent, users believe Ruffalo’s post is a reflection of how deeply Islamophobia is ingrained in the West.

“White liberals will not miss any opportunity to use Islam as the standard of what needs to be purged,” said political comedian Aamer Rahman. “White Christian nationalism is the founding ideology of your whole country, what the f*** do Muslims and Sharia have to do with it?” he asked.

One user shared a detailed explanation of what sharia means before slamming Ruffalo for his comments. “Your Christian nationalism is your Christian nationalism. Own it and leave us out of it!” she said.

“Stop projecting everything you can’t bear in your own society onto Islam!” another user demanded.

Many were shaken, not by the comments, but that they were coming from Ruffalo of all people. Some Muslim users even questioned what extremism in the West had to do with them.

The actor has yet to comment on the backlash.

Project 2025, also referred to as the Presidential Transition Project, outlines policies and changes that would be enacted if Donald Trump wins the 2024 presidential election.

Ruffalo frequently expresses his support for Palestinians and has advocated for sanctions against Israel. He has called for a permanent ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza, now nearing its 10th month.

In February this year, the Hollywood star, along with other celebrities, wore pins symbolising “peace lilies and Artists for Ceasefire” at the Directors Guild of America Awards.