In a taped interview with Good Morning America's Diane Sawyer, Mel Gibson, looking far less wild-eyed and feral than in his recent "John Brown" pics, says that two months after his infamous drunk driving arrest and anti-Semitic tirade in Malibu, California, he is still sober and still loving on the Jews.
Dismissing his anti-Semitic statements in the early morning hours of July 28 — including such choice bon mots as, "F***ing Jews... The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world" — as "just the stupid rambling of a drunkard," Gibson, 50, says he is working on healing himself and those he offended.
"What I need to do to heal myself and to be assuring and allay the fears of others and to heal them if they had any heart wounds from something I may have said ... the last thing I want to be is that kind of monster," he says in an interview that will air tomorrow and Friday morning on ABC.
The devoutly Catholic Gibson, whose graphic The Passion of the Christ was considered anti-Semitic by many viewers and was voted the most controversial film of all time in a magazine poll, says he will continue to act and direct and do his own thing.
"I'll always continue to work. I've never much depended on anyone but myself, as far as that goes. And, hey, I'm not under the illusion that everything's just going to be hunky-dory work wise forever. I've never been under that illusion. Things could go away tomorrow," the Braveheart Oscar-winner says.
He says of those who no longer want to work with him due to the outburst, that he feels "sad because they've obviously been hurt and frightened and offended enough to feel that they have to do that. And it's their choice. There's nothing I can do about that."
Article comments
1 - Dawn
It is rumored that the inital response to his latest film is a positive one. I guess we will have to wait for El Bicho to give it a thumb up or thumb down, either way, I hope Mel is genuine, as I used to love the man something fierce.
2 - Eric Olsen
he can be a very compelling and charming actor - this whole anti-Semitism thing is just so weird.
I hope this new movie isn't The Passion of the Maya
3 - Chris Olsen
"or the Jew back in the Jesus"
doesn't get much better than that.
4 - Matthew T. Sussman
Did he also retract his stance on the female officer's tits being made of sugar?
5 - Stan
Fair dinkum, I don't know what all the fuss is about: the Jews have had it easy from Mel.
Imagine being a Pommy (and Englishman) on the receiving end of Mel's nonsense!!
So when will Mel, the all-American hero who grew up in Oz, stop denigrating and vilifying and stereotyping the English? (think The Patriot, Braveheart). Only REAL Aussies are allowed to do that, Gibbo. You're really from upstate New York, not Waitara. You don't have the same vilification rights, being American and all.
Americans don't even understand the true beauty of such civilising influences as cricket and rugby and the need for all beer to have an alcohol content of at least 8 per cent.
On this basis alone, I believe the English should begin picketing all of Mel's movies - but there could be inherent problems: some of them might think they are joining a queue and will wonder if they are in the right place but will be too polite to ask.
A tip: if you see a long line of miserable-looking people complaining and talking about the weather outside one of Mel's films, you'll know you're at the picket.
(Q: How do you know when a plane-load of pommies has arrived at Sydney Airport? A: you can still hear the whining after the engines have been switched off).
6 - Roger Friedman
I had an early preview of "Apocolypto" and thought it was the worst movie I've ever seen. It was worse than "The Passion of The Christ" which was the most anti semetic film I've ever seen. Mel is over with. Disney is even trying to get rid of his film.
Roger Friedman,
Fox News
7 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Stan, you still spell like an Englishman. It's civilize not civilise. If you want to run the Pommies down, be my guest, but get rid of their 17th century spelling habits, at least...
Pass the word around in Oz, so your mates know also...
Best,
Ruvy
8 - Eric Olsen
thanks Chris!
you crack me up, Stan
Hi Roger, I'm flattered - two comments! "Ancient Mayan action-adventure": it doesn't have the ring of big box office, and I'm not sure there is a large group out there with vested interest in seeing it and promoting it, a la Pasion. Maybe the archaeologists will get behind it!
9 - Eric Olsen
anyone see the interview this morning?
10 - Lisa
All the money, fame can not buy peace and happiness. Shame on Mel Gibson.
11 - Melanie
Remember Roger Friedman of Fox News, those people who have the strongest reactions to [hypocrisy], is a kind of protective response. In other words, it's too painful for them to recognize the hypocrisy in their own lives, therefore they put more energy into damning it in the other person. In other words we must all look at our own mistakes and stop judging and condemning others.