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© 2016 AFPMel Gibson: 'It's time Hollywood forgave me'
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© 2016 AFP
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Harry_Gatto
He looks just like Saddam Hussein in his final photos after he was captured.
Puff_the_Magic
". . . Gibson said Jews were responsible for all the wars in the world.
He later apologized, blaming alcoholism . . ."
Strangerland
Does alcoholism make someone say racist things they don't believe, or does alcoholism make people more likely to say racist things they believe, but would keep to themselves if they were sober?
Hard to say.
I once said something extremely racist to a guy as an attempt to get a rise, when we were fighting. It wasn't something I believed, but I was really angry. My friend called me out on it right then and there. I was 11 years old, and it's something that has sat with me ever since (as an adult, I'd like to apologize to that guy if I ever get the chance). I learned my lesson, but is this a lesson that I may have needed to learn as an adult, or is this something that adults should figure out on their own without needing to learn the lesson?
Not sure on that.
MrBum
It seems like Hollywood has "forgiven" him and is giving him a chance to make them money, but audiences aren't buying and frankly I don't blame them. Even if he's reformed in terms of domestic abuse and alcoholism, the devout Catholic / anti-Semite thing is a bit crazy. It's a shame too because he knows how to make movies and tell a good story.
Jöran Bergwall
I forgive him.
oldman_13
He's a nasty piece of work using a World War 2 hero's story to worm his way back into Hollywood.
Sabrage
With all the anti-Muslim feeling around the world it's precious to call one man's prejudices out.
frank07
Basically Mel ranted anti-semetic stuff while he was drunk and he was blacklisted by Hollywood (because most studios are run by jews).
notagain
Anti-semetic and allegations of domestic violence that he made go away by paying off his accuser. Nasty piece of work that hides behind God.
lucabrasi
@frank
How about "... most studios are run by human beings who would rather not be associated with racist claptrap, whether uttered drunk or sober." ??
Thunderbird2
I'll never forgive him for Braveheart... Wallace was nothing like the woad wearing hairy highlander he portrayed him as. Also his seeming hatred for things British (see his War of Independence film... whatever it was called. Again historically incorrect.)
Not a fan.
Whatsnext
If they make him a villian in the next mad max movie. Ill forgive him. But it would be hard to top imortan Joe
albaleo
Aw, come on. As Frankie Boyle (Scottish comedian) said, "Remember when people said it was ridiculous to have Mel Gibson playing a Scottish guy. That's not going to be very convincing. But look at him now - an acoholic racist."
Strangerland
I can believe that, but that said, I love that movie. Watched it so many times.
commanteer
@frank07 I'm a Jew, and far more worried about people like you than someone like Mel Gibson. He was drunk, blurted stuff out, and is a bit off anyway, but seems like a decent guy at heart. You, I assume, posted that with forethought and completely sober.
katsu78
Look Mel, if you think you get to demand the terms of forgiveness because you feel okay with your past wrongdoing, I don't think you really get how this whole "forgiveness" thing works, mate.
PSandoz
Don't be ridiculous, you racist, antisemitic idiot. Nothing you have said even slightly shows that you have changed your mind or your attitude. You just sound like a hurt little child who doesn't even understand, because you are so naive, why adults are angry when you torture insects.
choiwaruoyaji
What about Scott Rudin and Amy Pascal making racist jokes about Obama? These are two Jewish Hollywood elites behaving in a racist way against black people.
Have they been ostracized for 10 years?!
Mel Gibson is an awesome director and actor. Glad he is back.
yabits
No. They made improper jokes about a person, not a race. Why does their ethnicity matter to you -- unless you have something against Jews. (As does Gibson -- who obviously relished portraying them as Christ-killers.)
Uh...the scandal isn't even 3 years old. Pascal was fired.
choiwaruoyaji
Two Jewish Hollywood elites made nasty racist jokes...
...jokes about the President of the United States no less!
Both elites are still active in Hollywood.
Scott Rudin has continued producing movies without batting an eyelid.
Is it one rule for Scott Rudin and another rule for Mel Gibson?
Why might that be?
Is racism against black people less bad than anti-semitism?
1glenn
He is an imperfect man with great talent, who has apologized for hist past indiscretions, and who has attempted to correct his mistakes.
yabits
Yes, about a person -- privately via email. Not public slurs against an entire group -- that's what Gibson did.
That depends upon the individual act under question. A private joke is less harmful than a public declaration.
Were any of his movies racist or anti-Semitic? (As the virulently anti-Jewish Gibson movie?)
choiwaruoyaji
To be honest, I was really surprised by the news about Scott Rudin's and Amy Pascal's racism.
My American Jewish friends are the nicest and most anti-racist people you could ever meet.
So to hear awful racism from two Jewish Hollywood elites seemed all the more shocking.
But it has obviously had zero impact on Scott Rudin's career as a producer.
Why has Rudin been immediately pardoned for his racism and yet Mel Gibson been made a pariah for 10 years?
Lacey Sheridan
It's time people let this go, including Jews. The man has apologized repeatedly; the continued anger directed at Gibson will turn on you soon. Give it a rest.
Fred Wallace
I'm puzzled. Is it taboo discussing about the top hierarchy of Hollywood? And does it matter what religion they adhere to? What's going on here?
Tamarama
To the best of my knowledge, Jesus was a Jew (The Catholics: "Hooray!") As was the Virgin Mary. (The Catholics: "Swoon!") But traditional view of Catholicism is that some Jews sold Jesus out to the Romans. Threw him under the bus, if you will. So some Jews were corrupt, soulless, turncoats. (The Catholics: "Boo!!! Yaar! Gnash!") So, the Jews are both Gods AND scumbags according the The Catholics. Mel?
It's all so confused. Except for the Judean People's Front of course.
I'll probably watch the movie at some point. He's been a naughty boy in a town very sensitive to anti semitism. I doubt he'll ever live that down.
Naughty Catholic.
turbotsat
Or Al Gore post-Armachaddon, but a lot more cheerful.
I don't know, they don't have to if they don't want to.
Maybe you should make a big donation to Rainbow Coalition or build a center or something.
karlrb
He's an outstanding actor and producer - that's it!
commanteer
Hollywood has always protected rapists and worse if they are making money from them. They singled out Gibson for political reasons, simple as that.
Strychnine
I forgive him. But I won't give him any money from now on either.
katsu78
Assuming you're not just stirring the pot, the answer is right there in the word I italicized. Producer
Ever wonder why when a real stinker of a film is coming out with a directer and cast no one has ever heard of, they market it with "By the producer of..." followed by some other much better film? It's because producers don't matter. They have no creative involvement in the film. They are just the guys who know other guys and can arrange for the real people with talent and vision to get jobs.
When an actor or actress spouts bigotry, if they get future roles it's uncomfortable for the public because we have to see them and we're reminded of what they did. When a director spouts bigotry, we have to wonder if the directing choices they made are intended to further their bigotry. When a producer spouts bigotry though, most of us don't even know who they are. That's maybe not fair, but it's definitely not indicative of one kind of racism being more acceptable than another.
Lost-in-Nagoya
All of us make big mistakes, in public or in private. And we should forgive, just like we want to be forgiven. Mel Gibson, before being a great actor and director, is just a human being, like all of us here.
itsonlyrocknroll
Good Lord, Mary and Joseph, that facial foliage could be misconstrued as miscreant Mel's impersonation of Moses. He'd drink to that.
onedragon
Only Respect.
Thunderbird2
Yeah, well Frankie Boyle is well known for getting himself into hot water with his comments... that one just seems par for the course.
I tried to watch Apocalypto that he directed... a load of pretentious mince. It's like when John Travolta made that stupid "Battlefield Earth"... give someone influence in Hollywood and they go gaga.