As of now, there is no evidence that actor Mark Ruffalo called Donald Trump a “convicted rapist” or a “pedophile” at the 2024 or 2025 Golden Globes, nor that he made any public statements including the specific claims listed.
A comprehensive search of public statements, interviews, and reputable news sources reveals no record of those quotes being made by Ruffalo at the Golden Globes or elsewhere.
Additionally, Donald Trump has not been convicted of rape. In the civil lawsuit brought by E. Jean Carroll, Trump was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation, not rape. A federal jury in May 2023 awarded Carroll $5 million in damages.
Another trial in early 2024 added $83.3 million more for defamatory statements made after the initial verdict. Again, this was a civil case, not a criminal conviction.
Regarding George Stephanopoulos: Trump filed a defamation lawsuit against him in 2024 for comments suggesting Trump was “found liable for rape.” That suit was dismissed by a judge in 2024, ruling that Stephanopoulos’s phrasing, while disputed, did not meet the standard for defamation.
Mark Ruffalo on Donald Trump: “The guy is a convicted felon, a convicted rapist, he’s a pedophile. He’s the worst human being in the world. If we’re relying on this guy’s morality then we’re all in a lot of trouble. I love this country and what I’m seeing here is not America” pic.twitter.com/3Iq50XzHIF
— Marco Foster (@MarcoFoster_) January 12, 2026
There is also no evidence that ABC or Disney paid Trump $15 million to settle a defamation case. No credible outlet or court record supports that claim.
Claims that Trump was called a pedophile or that Ruffalo made false statements about Venezuela or the Vice President also lack reliable sourcing at this time.
Defamation lawsuits are complex and require clear, provable falsehoods made with actual malice. Public figures like Trump face a higher burden of proof in such cases.
While some language in the public discourse does get reckless or extreme, there’s no verified record that Mark Ruffalo made the defamatory statements attributed to him in this piece.
