Rumors of Mel Gibson’s Anti-Semitism Proven True

Dave Hahn · 07-31-2006, 10:46 AM

After being arrested Friday evening for drunk driving, actor/director Mel Gibson verbally assaulted the arresting officer and clearly made anti-Semitic statements, Gibson is quoted as saying:

Quote:

"F*****g Jews... The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world." Gibson then asked the deputy, "Are you a Jew?"

It is being reported that the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, ‘. . . had the initial report doctored to keep the real story under wraps.’ The arresting officer was ordered by superiors to “sanitize” his report. Unfortunately for Gibson, TMZ.com has obtained four pages of the original report and broke the story of Gibson’s behavior and statements, and the subsequent cover-up.

The full story can be found here: http://www.tmz.com/2006/07/28/gibson...eged-cover-up/

On Saturday, Gibson released a public statement. He said:

Quote:

"After drinking alcohol on Thursday night, I did a number of things that were very wrong and for which I am ashamed. . . . I acted like a person completely out of control when I was arrested, and said things that I do not believe to be true and which are despicable. I am deeply ashamed of everything I said . . .

The real question here is, can we, the theater-going public, blithely ignore the drunken words of a superstar, or should we hold him responsible for his hostility toward and discrimination against Jews?

In my humble opinion, I think it is time to remember that here in America people are free to worship, (or not worship at all), as they please; be it in a church, synagogue or mosque. Freedom of Religion is a cornerstone of modern American democracy and religious intolerance can not, must not be condoned. Especially now, as we watch with horror as people in the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere shoot, bomb and mutilate each other over religious differences.

Some may be able to overlook the artist while appreciating his work, not me. I find this kind of hatred repugnant and unless and until such time that Mr. Gibson shows the world that he has purged the hate within his heart: I will not see another Mel Gibson movie in the theater. I will not buy or rent another Mel Gibson movie on dvd. I won’t even watch a Mel Gibson movie for free on television.

This is not political; this is not a question of liberal vs conservative, Republican vs Democrat. I believe that religious intolerance like this, if ignored, threatens the very fabric of our American values.

mattCR · 07-31-2006, 10:55 AM

We are also a land of innocent until proven guilty. What we have in the press are hearsay reports from "unnamed sources".

I've seen a lot of actors/actresses do things I absolutely don't approve of. I've seen them endorse causes I despise. And I still pay the ticket to watch the film if I'm entertained.

I can believe Mel said some insane things, but then again, I never took him as my spiritual leader

And I don't think he asked for that role. And, I still enjoy him in "Chicken Run" and numerous other films.

Eh. I'm sure he could have said some terrible infammatory things. But "eh", we've got people in hollywood still getting praise who were convicted child molesters; drug dealers/professed murderers making it in the music game. If I were to demand everyone fit my demands, outside of Veggietales, I would struggle to find something worth handing money to.

IBTL.

Holadem · 07-31-2006, 11:11 AM

True or not, ya got to admit the picture from the linked article is a work of genius:

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H

Richard Kim · 07-31-2006, 11:15 AM

If the report is indeed true, it wouldn't be surprising considering his father's anti-Semitic views and Mel's reluctance to denounce them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holadem

True or not, ya got to admit the picture from the linked article is a work of genius:

--
H

That mugshot looks "Saddam-esque" to me.

Andy Sheets · 07-31-2006, 11:18 AM

It bothers me much more that he was apparently driving while drunk. Lots of assholes out there make bigoted remarks without actually harming anyone but drunk drivers are potential killers.

Regardless, I still think Apocalypto looks like a good movie. As they say, if you boycotted every artist that did something terrible, you'd have virtually nothing to read, watch, listen to, etc.

**HTF Ads**

Eric Peterson · 07-31-2006, 11:25 AM

First of all, Mel Gibson movies rarely draw my attention. I think that Payback was the last one that I saw and before that was Ransom (Both of which were mediocre remakes). He's a moderate talent at best and as far as his views on religion, I could care even less. I'm constantly amazed at people who are overwhelmingly concerned about what musicians and actors are saying, but could care less about what our politicians are doing.

I'm very concerned about Freedom of Relgion, and I'm far more concerned with what is happening in Washington vs. what is happening in Hollywood. Our leaders are constantly trumpeting the US as a Christian nation. Hardly the kind of image that promotes religious freedom.

With that, I'll shut up before I break the forum's guidelines.

Radioman970 · 07-31-2006, 12:02 PM

Darn Mel! I hate that. Seemed like such a cool guy but now he's sort of belched his upbringing out like a beer burp. I'm highly disappointed.

I won't boycott his movies since characters are one thing and the real person is another. If he'd raped and killed children that would be one thing. Here we have him spewing anti-Semtic remarks while intoxicated. I'll judge the person on that but not his characters. If he makes an anti-Semitic movie I don't see it. [CERTAIN PHRASES EDITED BY ADMIN TO MAKE POST BETTER.]

Dave Hahn · 07-31-2006, 12:13 PM

Matt,

You said:

Quote:

What we have in the press are hearsay reports from "unnamed sources".

I don’t think a hard copy of a police report is hearsay. Also, if Mr. Gibson didn’t say the things he is quoted as saying in the report, why did he apologize by saying, “I did a number of things that were very wrong and for which I am ashamed. . . . I acted like a person completely out of control when I was arrested, and said things that I do not believe to be true and which are despicable.” Seems to me he did make anti-Semitic statements and is now applying damage-control.

You went on to say:

Quote:

I've seen them endorse causes I despise.

I don’t think anti-Semitism is “a cause.” “Save the whales” is a cause, “Stop global-warming” is a cause; as I said in my post, this is not political. Anti-Semitism is an issue of supreme moral consequence. There is a difference between an actor and their political beliefs and those who commit despicable acts.

Matt, you said:

Quote:

. . . we've got people in hollywood still getting praise who were convicted child molesters; drug dealers/professed murderers making it in the music game.

and Andy said:

Quote:

if you boycotted every artist that did something terrible, you'd have virtually nothing to read, watch, listen to, etc.

These attitudes are the very reason I made this post. Public opinion matters. Public opinion shapes the norms and mores of our society. If everyone stopped paying for product from ”child molesters; drug dealers/professed murderers”, if we stopped seeing movies and buying albums and sent a strong message that there was a zero-tolerance for these kind of behaviors, maybe these “artists” and the industry in whole would get the message.

If we’re indifferent to the despicable acts of public figures, we’re not just callous, we are by omission, complicit. As Edmund Burke said, ”All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

Chuck Mayer · 07-31-2006, 12:15 PM

This will be locked at some point, because religion is as off limits as politics here (and rightly so).

If you plan on boycotting films because the talent has failed moral tests, then you won't be seeing many films. I am more upset with Gibson for drinking and driving, endangering lives, than I am his (alleged) remarks. I disagree strongly with what he (allegedly) said. It certainly doesn't help his public image. There is a long path from drunk anti-semitic remarks to child molestation and murder.

But it is irrelevant to the films he's made. I am still seeing Apocalypto, and The Passion of the Christ is still a beautiful film.

But Mel needs to not drink and drive, and he probably needs to shut the **** up as well.