Star Still Starting Drama
Courtesy LA Times
As a Jew, I am personally offended that Mel Gibson continues to pinpoint Jewish people more than three years after making drunken anti-Semitic slurs during a DUI arrest.
In a recent interview for Gibson’s latest film “Edge of Darkness,” Los Angeles entertainment reporter Sam Rubin suggested some people might not welcome the star back after his infamous comments. Those included, “F*****g Jews….the Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world.”
Gibson responded, “I gather you have a dog in this fight?” — clearly referring to Rubin’s Jewish heritage. Then he asked if Rubin was “being impartial.”
Rubin said he didn’t realize what Gibson meant at the time, but walked away incredibly disturbed.
“As both a Jew and a human being, I was really offended by what he said in 2006,” Rubin said on KTLA. “It never really seemed to me that he apologized.”
Gibson did release a statement apologizing for the “despicable” things he said, but he told Rubin he “didn’t necessarily make” the remarks that were “attributed to him.”
The Jewish Journal posted the video of Rubin’s interview on their Web site and invited public comments. Some posts claimed that Rubin simply misunderstood Gibson’s “dog in this fight.” Others felt that Rubin was rightfully offended. Some even agreed that Gibson didn’t make the anti-Semitic slurs in the first place.
I am shocked that people are still debating the issue and that Gibson is essentially saying he didn’t do it.
His latest comments could certainly have a major effect on his career. After referring to Rubin as “a dog in this fight,” Gibson said that he hopes that people would “graciously accept me back.”
I, along with many others, will not graciously accept Mel Gibson back. Perhaps after the apology for his 2006 remarks, I could have forgiven him. Now, though, after offending another Jew and openly denying his mistakes, I feel that he is not worthy of another chance to regain respect.
— Rebecca Stein | VOX Staff
I personally feel offended for those of the Jewish religion. It makes no sense that a man can not own up to his mistakes. It makes me think that he really meant the comment and never sincerely meant to apologize in the first place. As a Muslim, I can seriously understand how it feels for someone to attack you unprovoked because of your religious beliefs. I will not support someone who tries to defend himself because of his own mistake. He needs to grow up and I know I won’t be going to see his movie.
Mel Gibson is in need of a reality check. When he initially made disrespectful remarks about Jews in 2006, many people felt that some of things he said should be excused because he was drunk and now four years later he is still making slurs. This time he cannot even say that he was intoxicated. This reminds me of when that guy from Seinfield, Michael Richards, made several racial slurs about black people. People should not try to make up excuses to justify inexcusable behavior. After Michael Richards rant about blacks, my mother vowed never to watch Seinfield again because she was so disgusted. I think people should boycott Mel Gibson’s movie for the same reason. His behavior is simply inhumane. What’s really sad is that he doesn’t even acknowledge the fact that he made these remarks and i highly doubt his apology is sincere.
Without respect can he be a respectable actor. Would America be doing Gibson a favor by no longing supporting him and his movies?
After 3 restricted years on probation you would think that Mel Gibson would think about his actions and try to make some kind of positive change with himself but…. In the interview Gibson was clearly insulting Sam Rubin and seemed justified in doing it. He sat in that interview with a air of confidence that one can only get by being sure about themselves. When Sam Rubin asked the question to him he was belligerent. It seemed Gibson wanted to start a fight. If the statement were not true Gibson would have contested against it. I think he has no innocence to maintain for he knows what he did and that is why he is confident.
Gibson did make anti-semitic comments. That weight on the hearts of thousands all over the country.
And we all have a dog in this fight when it comes to senseless blame and prejudice against other human beings.The question is Does society promote defamation of human beings when they allow another person, who clearly vilifies against Jewish people to be a actor, one who is looked up as an icon in the eyes of so many or should we as a people and a society use the force of forgiveness to accept Gibson again, letting him do what he loves although he his expressed extreme hatred? Can we really judge people’s moral standing to evaluate how well they will do their job.
Let me answer that last one. YES…. Seriously I just think that knowing all we know about the allegations against Mel Gibson, and his lackadaisical attitude to contest them it would be distracting trying to watch a film starting him. It’s like sitting next to a murderer in the theater and not being comfortable.
The fact of the matter is Gibson DID make those statements. Drunk or not, he needs to fess up to his statements. An apology may not do be enough for some, but to go on as the slurs were never said is ridiculous. The statements are in a police report, and if I’m not mistaken, in audio somewhere. I know some police officers lie, especially when it comes to the famous, but in this case I doubt it.