BREAKING: Mel Speaks; It's No Longer Alleged
Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy, Newsstand
In a shockingly normal-person decision by a celeb in trouble, Mel Gibson has come out with a statement about his DUI in which he takes full responsibility for his behavior. You can find the full text of the statement online, but to summarize, Gibson doesn't dispute anything in the report we told you about this morning. Instead, he describes his behavior at the time of arrest as "completely out of control," and goes on (referring primarily, one assumes, to his anti-Semitic words) to say: "[I] said things that I do not believe to be true and which are despicable. I am deeply ashamed of everything I said." He also apologizes to the deputies with whom he was involved during the arrest, and praises them several times for the jobs they do, and were doing last night.So, there it is. I'm really, really impressed that he's put out a statement simply accepting that he was wrong -- you don't see that much 'round Hollywood way, at least not from names as big as Gibson's. I'm still troubled, however, by his drunken anti-Semitism. From some of the comments on the previous post, it sounds like some of you accept that sort of thing as being par for the course when people get drunk. So I'm curious: Do you honestly think that, under the influence of alcohol, people with no prejudicial beliefs can suddenly become racist, or anti-Semitic, or anti-Muslim, or anti-whatever? Because I've never known anyone to whom that happens (lucky for me, I guess) -- what are your experiences like?
Edit: Comments on this post are now closed.
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(Page 1)2. Everyone knows, the truth comes out when one is drunk. Hasn't always been clear that Gibson is a life-long Anti-Semite?
Posted at 6:00PM on Jul 29th 2006 by garfinkel
3. Is Mel claiming that he's not an anti-Semite or just that he's ashamed of saying such things out loud to a police officer? I'd go with the former.
Posted at 6:08PM on Jul 29th 2006 by ihatemovies
4. I've never really felt one way or the other about Gibson as an actor or filmmaker. But this incident and all the things he said really colors my opinion of him as a person. Wow.
Posted at 6:11PM on Jul 29th 2006 by RisingSunofNihon
5. This incident alone would not make me think he was necessarily Antisemetic. People say stupid things to hurt other people when they are drunk that they don't necessarily mean. However, and this is a big one for me- this isn't the first time that he has been linked to these sorts of issues. His movie, Passion of the Christ, was linked to the issue. And, a lot, he can not be blamed for the sins of his father, his father has been linked to these issues. The apple doesn't always fall far from the tree. This doesn't mean it can't, but it doesn't always. Putting all these things together- with his extreme verison of Catholism (they even denounce the present church as 'too' liberal), I am not surprised by this, and I don't think he can merely say he did this because he was drunk. There are just too many indicators otherwise for me.
Posted at 6:24PM on Jul 29th 2006 by akaison
6. In Vino Veritas, as the Romans might say.
Posted at 6:25PM on Jul 29th 2006 by Chris
7. I can see it now -- everyone will be so impressed that hes a "down to earth hollywood bigshot" that it will seem ok for what he did.
Celebrity or not, it is unacceptable behavior. And this situation turns out as a good PR stunt, Im going to be pissed.
South Park was right, Mel is a douche.
8. Yeah sure, now that the cats out of the bag, he sorry!
Too late Mr. Big mouth!
Like Father like Son.
Posted at 6:29PM on Jul 29th 2006 by Carlo
9. As to what he said about the Jews to me is an understatment and all someone has to do is connecting the dots and know a bit of history to know the turth of his words . Apologizing for saying the truth make him a coward and a dependant person yes but do not make someone an anti semite .
This make believe stories hollywood and mass media been feeding the world for so long does it also make him blind ? How come what ever the Jews accuse the woprld is doing to them actually they been doing themselves to the rest of the world under full coverage from all of you who dont seem to dare oppose them ? even verbally are you begin to feel Coy yet ?
Posted at 6:35PM on Jul 29th 2006 by HardHawk
10. Some said that the Passion of Christ was anti-Semitic, but I would say it was just another instance of his obssessive need to dis-embowel someone on the screen. His movies were only tired re-makes of Pasolini's production, -- Salo, The 120 Days of Sodom.
Posted at 6:35PM on Jul 29th 2006 by Petr Kollaa
11. It's very possible that he has anti Jewish sentiments. Sounds like it's something he's upset about, either way.
I'm not entirely sure why he's being called "saintly" in the post. AFAIK, he's a Christian. Doesn't make him saintly. Um, case in point...
I still get the impression everyone expects him to act like a perfect saint, even those that don't like him. Why is that?
-Pie
12. I don't know how really, really impressive his statement is...I don't believe celeb acts or makes a statement without a team of people making sure it will put them in the best light possible for their demographic. In this case, the cops had him on tape (according to TMZ), so he couldn't very well back out of it. This is man who, intentionally or not, publically said some shockingly racist things, and I don't see any reason to give him a break just because he acknowledged what could be proven to be true.
Posted at 7:01PM on Jul 29th 2006 by AHR
13. Well, well, well.........like a pathetic version of Neely O' Hara sans the talent. Just to refresh some memories kiddies, he's homophobic, too! Just prior to the release of his Jesus movie, he arrived in Lynchburg, Virginia to the joy of Jerry Falwell and the folks at Liberty University........Jerry gave him a big thumbs up.
Anti-Semitic, anti-gay..........just the hootch talking?
Posted at 7:16PM on Jul 29th 2006 by William Baker
14. He said it, he meant it, drunk or not and now all his dvds that I own go to the gas chambers. He doesnt't deserve to make another movie or sell another ticket. We the people have the power. Let's use it.
Posted at 7:22PM on Jul 29th 2006 by judizn
15. Well, while I don't buy that alcohol will expose otherwise non-existant prejudcies, I do think that just because someone says something offensive while drunk does not make them anti-semitic/racist/biggoted. Plenty of people have prejudices that are the result of upbringing and environment that they must fight to overcome. You might think things that you know are wrong, and if you acknowledge that and try to change yourself that's at least a step. Alchohol lowers your inhibitions, and that means it also reduces your ability to censor yourself. If you were privy to everything anybody thought I'm sure you could conclude they were a horrible person, but the ability and will to censor and change oneself is important. As for how this applies to the specific case of Mel Gibson, I have no idea.
Posted at 7:44PM on Jul 29th 2006 by Michael
16. Mel Gibson has said repeatedly that he does not believe he is a good person. He's said the best person he knows is his wife. He's said he drinks and smokes too much and would like to be a better person, but that it's hard work.
I agree with Pie. People expect the man to be a saint for no apparent reason. He's never said he was saintly. He's a Christian, yes, and had the audacity to make an extremely successful movie about Jesus Christ. How dare he. Let's make statements that say the man thinks he's perfect and the first time he does something human, like, say, get drunk, drive, and act like an ass while drunk (because no one EVER does that) we'll say he's a hypocrite.
The man is human and makes stupid mistakes. If everyone who did this kind of crap was on the news every time they did it that's all we would hear about 24/7.
Posted at 8:01PM on Jul 29th 2006 by Alana
17. Martha, what are your drunk experiences like?
Posted at 8:08PM on Jul 29th 2006 by Finished.Law.School
18. Guess who the next new Bush appointment is on Anti-DUI?
Posted at 8:14PM on Jul 29th 2006 by Matt
19. 101 Hollywood types get busted for drugs or worse and the industry and fans welcome them back with open arms. Their press release usually say things like overwork, exhaustion, malnourishment, etc. caused the behavior. After treatment, the press usually hail the courage that it took to come back. However, have one of the few unapologetically catholic actors make a serious mistake caused by what is a medically accepted disease and he must be punished just like in the movies he makes. The hipocisy of some commenters here but mainly on other sites is so thick it virtually oozes.
Posted at 8:22PM on Jul 29th 2006 by jmchez
20. He can start a whole group. Racists Against Drunk Driving, or better known as RADD.
Posted at 8:26PM on Jul 29th 2006 by Lucien
1. No, I think Mel is using the alcoholism excuse as a way of deflecting attention from the fact that he stated his true beliefs. Period. End of story.
Posted at 5:59PM on Jul 29th 2006 by tlrhb