Wait…there’s MORE.
Deadline Hollywood confirms there was no “coverup” in the official report about Mel Gibson’s allegedly not-exactly-fond-of-Jews comments when he was arrested for a DUI. And Gibson has apologized.
Deadline Hollywood’s update includes this:
Gibson issued a statement today apologizing for his drunk driving arrest and saying he has battled alcoholism throughout his life. The Oscar-winning filmmaker also apologized for what he said were “despicable” “out of control” statements “that I do not believe to be true” made to the deputies who arrested him early Friday morning on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. But though his statement seems to confirm he made the anti-Semitic slurs, it does not specifically admit them or apologize for them. And that’s going to embroil him in even more controversy, I predict.
Indeed. Many of the people Gibson will have to work with in Hollywood at studios don’t have Bolivian names. What did he say? Again, Deadline Hollywood has the details. We’ll offer you a cleaned up version (go to the link for the original):
Among the allegations within TMZ.com’s four pages, Gibson “angrily stated” that “‘My life is f—–‘” and “became fixated on his notoriety and concern that the incident was going to be publicized.” The celebrity became “belligerent’ and “threatened” the deputy, saying “‘I’m going to f— you. You’re going to regret you ever did this to me.'” Then, Gibson “blurted out a barrage of anti-Semitic remarks about ‘F—— Jews.’ Yelled out ‘The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world.’ Then asked, ‘Are you a Jew.’ Conduct concerned and frightened me to a point. I called ahead to the station requesting a sergeant meet the arrival of my patrol car in the station parking lot…”
This is a news story with significance on several fronts. Gibson remains a major player in Hollywood, someone who has been able to “go independent.” A controversy over comments such as these won’t enhance his status or the box office gross of his films. Some members of the public (and not just Jewish ones) may decide to pass the next time they see his name on a film. And since his name is associated with a film many considered to be a life-changing experience the aura surrounding his name will certainly be of some importance.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.