I’m taking this Mel Gibson situation way too personally. To briefly recap, he got arrested for speeding up Pacific Coast Highway, was drunk and abusive when the officers pulled him over, and then spewed anti-Semitic diatribes. Quite a night’s work. This blogger and this one wrote about the situation quite eloquently, check them out.
Mel Gibson was the first celebrity I ever worked with. He was gorgeous, nice, unassuming, funny and professional. I adored him. He was very charming and could not have been more gracious. I have a framed picture of the two of us which has sat in a prominent place for many years.
When the backlash from “The Passion of The Christ” began I didn’t want to believe it. Despite the fact his father spews all sorts of repulsive sentiments like the Holocaust never happened, I didn’t want to believe that Mel was THAT type of person. I defended him. Repeatedly. And now all this. Which I can’t ignore. I don’t buy it was drunken ramblings, I think when people get drunk they share their true feelings. The filters are gone so to speak.
So I am putting your picture away, Mel. And I’m sad. But I just cannot bury my head in the sand anymore. I almost feel sorry about the shitstorm you have started and what it’s going to do to you. Almost.
Thanks for the memories.
Sadly must agree.
So, I guess neither Mel nor his lunatic dad will ever be Bnai Brith Man of the Year?
Just another retard with too many stupid opinions and too much money. It’s sick how our culture idolizes celebrities; there are very few with strong morals and values. Usually quite the opposite.
I think with all their money and/or fame, the celebrity starts to think of himself as god-like. Makes me sick.
The same goes for so much of the celebrity world.
We thought we knew. Now we do. Too bad for you, Lisa. But just remember: So it goes. (Eases the pain.)
he’s loony, that’s for sure. did you ever see the South Park episode with Mel and the Passion of the Christ? freakin hilarious.
It sounds like he was really, REALLY hammered, and just talkin’ s***.
He apologized profusely.
I don’t know; maybe he should have to take some sort of sensitivity class or something. In addition to the alcohol treatment.
I mean, in a free society, you have the “right to be anti-Semitic”–but I mean he should maybe make HIMSELF take a sensitivity class.
Ummmmm… how did I miss this???
It’s especially sad since he seems like such a talented and personable man. He was always one of my favorite actors.
sigh… and he was so cute in Maverick.
I just found out about Mel this morning. What’s with him? I thought he was a STRICT CATHOLIC? Ever since he starred in the movie with Helen Hunt he has taken a fall.
I used to like him as a teen. NOW He’s gone all crazy!! SHAPE UP MEL!!
I know what you mean here. I was reminded of a parody of Mel and The Passion… on an episode of South Park. Mel was portrayed as a bit gay and sadistic in the cartoon. I was a little put off by it at the time, but I like South Park because they don’t show favoritism or cut any of the celebs much slack over their personal wrong doings. I don’t think the law should either.
I think he’s been in a downward spiral since that godawful, never-ending p.o.s. “Braveheart”. Seems to me his freaky deaky’s been on for a long time… it’s just getting louder.
I agree- people speak their minds when drunk. They don’t start spewing vitriol they don’t mean. There’s really no excuse. See ya, Mel.
I can separate the man from the work. If I like the work and dislike the man, no problem. He’s gone off the deep end in recent years, but that won’t change the fact that “Payback” is one of my all-time favorite movies. I’ll see his future works if they’re things I’m at all interested in and judge them on their QUALITY & not based upon how I feel about the actor.
NOBODY’s perfect. Drunk or sober, nobody deserves to be idolized. You can like their public personas and be disappointed to find out they’re not quite who they appear to be, but taking it any father than that sets you up for a fall and puts unreasonable expectations on an otherwise NORMAL and average human being.
There’s more that could be said with regard to his statement, his apology, and so on. But things like this will always get misinterpreted by the injured party as being even more racist no matter who says them or what is being said. With things like this, people are much more interested in reading into things instad of actually reading what’s being said.
Not only did he bash Jews, he bashed women, calling one of them “sugar tits.” Dude, that’s just wrong.
Mel left the land of the sane a while back. This whole incident is just proof. Mel and Tom Cruise: not the cool individuals we once thought they were.
This stunt pissed me off too. Sorry he was too good to be true. And you are spot on with the drunken talk. Which normally is funny and harmless like “I love you man!” Oh well, Hollyweird takes another.
Add alcohol for instant idiot. It is a too common recipe.
They say that when you’re drunk, there is this little box that opens up. It’s the truth box. Believe me, listen when someone is intoxicated, and yes—take it to heart. I totally agree with you on that. Too bad about Mel. That’s such a disappointment.
What is it about this dip into the fanaticism pool and mega-stars – Cruise and Gibson? If they want to preach, go preach – jeeze – just not on my movie nickel.
Lisa: This is really very sad and disturbing. Guess I’ll add Mel to my short list (so far) of actors I refuse to go see. I saw him interviewed about his father’s poisonous views and he seemed humiliated. I felt sorry for him. Now I don’t. When will this ever end? lol!
I would have liked to have given him the benefit of the doubt, Lisa, but it’s tough to. Alcohol brings out the worst in many people. Too bad he can’t overcome his addiction to it. I hope he gets the help he needs. Then, perhaps, you can get his picture back out. *hugs*
Some very telling responses, I must say
Indeed Glo.
Thank you all for your fascinating comments!
I saw on CNN that he issued an apology. Here it is http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/07/31/gibson.dui/index.html
It’s a shame, I adored him as well. Oh well. How about Keifer Sutherland? He’s hot on 24.
i remember reading about his drinking problem years ago… which doesn’t excuse his behavior, but does help to explain it. that said, the things he said to those cops didn’t come from nowhere. hopefully this will be Mel’s “come to Jesus” moment (thought he already had those) and he’ll get off the bottle once and for all. i hope so, because i really used to like him, and i still want to! (and, since you have a pic of the two of you, i’m guessing you do, too!)
Another example of how alcohol and speaking don’t mix.
Hey Cutie! I answered your question today!
I must admit, I’ve never been a big Mel fan, but now…he doesn’t really stand a chance. Not one chance. I’m not Jewish, but I’m offended. What a fool!
I’m beheading my Braveheart action figure (no, I don’t have one.).
It just keeps getting better and better; now he wants to meet in person with Jewish leaders who he “has offended” to apologize and to help the healing. So this asshole first rips into Jews because they’re not a part of his faith; now he’s so interested in healing that he’s seeking out Jews and not the shitbirds in his own religion?
Barbara Wa-Wa got it right — I don’t want to ever see another Mel Gibson film either. The guy’s not only a raging alcoholic — but he’s a bigot, a liar and he’s arrogant enough to think — to hope, even — that the public won’t realize all of this shit is damage control for his fucked-up beliefs and his even more fucked-up family.
I give him credit — it took Tom Cruise at least two weeks to go from being a decent public celebrity to a total douchebag. Mel’s managed to do it all in, basically, three days.
Mazel tov, Mel!
You know, the whole thing is ugly.
It’s wrong to hate people because of race, religion, etc, etc.
If Mel is a hater, I don’t want to be his friend, that’s for sure.
I would point out that many entertainers lead lifestyles or harbor beliefs that don’t coincide with mine, but I still let them entertain me. Is that right or wrong? I don’t know. Both maybe.
I am so skeptical of the media machine, I don’t believe much. His released statement seemed like he wasn’t trying to pass this off, but instead take responsibility. I respect that if its real.
The drunk thing. I was once on vacation with friends. We were two couples. My wife is Mexican from her mother. The other couple are black. I had been drinking too much, and I forget the context of a statement I made, but never forgot the icy stare from my friends when I said, “WE DON’T NEED NO STINKING MEXICANS!”
I was honestly trying to be funny, I’m not a racist; I was drunk, and trying to quote the line in Treasure of the Sierra Madre… you know the one about the Badges?
It was not pretty. It came out wrong. It was interpreted as a racist comment by my friends. I had to live it down.
Does this apply to Mel Gibson. Who knows? Mel, and his family or friends may know. Or not.
It’s still a very ugly situation. Mel seems like a fairly moral guy. But that doesn’t mean he is, does it.