Some celebrities use their American Cinematheque Award celebration to highlight some cause that they’re involved with – like Matt Damon. When Matt was recognized with the lifetime achievement award, he used the moment to highlight his work in Africa. Other celebrities use the award ceremony as just a fun night with friends. And then there’s Robert Downey Jr., who used his night to highlight his special cause: being friends with Mel Gibson. Mel was at RDJ’s American Cinematheque ceremony – not only that, but Mel posed with RDJ, they buddied up for the cameras, and RDJ passionately defended Mel in his speech.
Now, before this, RDJ has shown public signs of his support of Mel. He “refused to criticize” Mel (and Charlie Sheen), basically claiming that he (RDJ) has a very sketchy past, and he’s not going to judge other dudes for their sketchiness. It wasn’t a passionate defense, and for the most part, Robert has avoided the kind of gross-by-association taint that Jodie Foster has gotten with her relationship to Mel. I talked about the difference in the situations previously. But now something has changed – RDJ just put his reputation, his backing, his support fully behind the dude who will demand a beej before he kills you and buries you in the garden.
Mel Gibson has a real friend in Robert Downey Jr. Friday night Downey, 46, accepted an American Cinematheque Award in Beverly Hills, and the actor used his time on stage to ask Hollywood to forgive Gibson, 55.
“Unless you are without sin — and if you are, you are in the wrong f**king industry — you should forgive him and let him work,” the Iron Man star said.
Downey, who famously struggled with substance abuse himself in the past, costarred with Gibson in the 1990 film Air America. “He taught me many things, and I will use the ‘C’ word — courage,” Downey said. “There’s nothing so much wrong with him. Of course you have to worry about the guy making the judgment here. He’s a good dude with a good heart.
Gibson has been open about his battle with alcoholism; throughout the years he has been repeatedly taped making offensive, anti-Semitic remarks, including a drunken rant during a 2006 arrest in Malibu. In March, he pled no contest for one misdemeanor count of spousal battery, related to a Jan. 6, 2010 incident with his ex Oksana Grigorieva. During the pair’s custody case for their 23-month-old daughter Lucia, Gibson admitted, “I slapped Oksana with an open hand in an attempt to bring her back to reality.”
But Downey, who is proudly clean and sober today, isn’t about to judge Gibson. “Mel and I have the same lawyer, same publicist, and same shrink. I couldn’t get hired and he cast me,” Downey said. “He said if I accepted responsibility — he called it hugging the cactus — long enough, my life would take meaning. And if he helped me, I would help the next guy. But it was not reasonable to expect the next guy would be him.”
[From Us Weekly]
I have such mixed feelings. Ugh. On one side, I know that Robert truly feels beholden to Mel, and like there’s a debt that Robert still needs to repay. I think RDJ found his decency in sobriety, and he believes that people can change, can become better and whole, and that everyone derives a second chance. Those are noble things to believe in, and it makes him a good person, worthy of admiration and emulation. On the other side… Robert just stood up for a dude who fist beat the crap out of his girlfriend (and her son), then stalked, harassed and threatened the girlfriend when she dared to leave him. That sucks, for lack of a better word.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
And people without the millions of Mel Gibson have lost their jobs without having done anything bad.
I hope a little harder that they get their jobs back. Sorry, Mel.
I think that was brave and shows his character in standing by someone who did the same for him. And he makes a valid point about judgmental irony from peers who have little to no right to be sanctimonious. This includes, to a certain degree, a venom spewing public Internet where anonymity seems to make it an art form.
@ Flan — agreed. Unless he’s been completely irresponsible, Gibson could never work again and still have plenty of money. I feel no sympathy for his difficulties reclaiming his career.
The difference between RDJ and Mel is that RDJ’s downward spiral was mostly victimless. He didn’t terrorize women or profess his hatred for entire minority groups. I imagine that he believes that much of Mel’s behavior was a symptom of alcohol abuse or mental illness, but even so, there are certain things that you can never take back.
On side of being a domestic abuser, he is also misogynistic, racist, homophobic, and anti Semitic. I understand Gibson helped RDJ by paying his movie insurance so RDJ could get back into the industry, but come on. This is a guy who believes the VATICAN is too liberal, and who refuses to publicly disagree with his Holocaust Denier father.
Not even alot of creeps in Hollywood are quite this bad.
Downey went to jail for his transgressions, he paid his debt. Gibson has never,at least that I have heard, apologized for his anti-semetic, racist, spousal abusing, (cheating too since no one had filed for divorce when his girl friend had the baby) antics.
He (like Polanski) let’s others beg and speak for him while he looks wimpy standing to the side. He needs to grow a pair and ask for forgeivness himself, do something that proves he is sorry and stop looking like some lost puppy who is misunderstood. He needs to do penance first, then maybe get back to work then.
Understand why Downey appreciates him, but it is Gibson’s responsiblity to make good for what he has done and said.
One thing that always annoys me is the whole “Yes I hit her but it was an open hand” crap. A slap is measurably worse than a punch due to – boring stuff – and it really, really grates on my nerves.
Sorry, RDJ, but I refuse to support the careers of anti-semitic misogynistic a-holes. Let him go cry in the corner with his millions. Completely agree with above posters.
I agree with Brittney that RDJ was mostly only hurting himself and not spewing venom at others. There is no excuse for being racist, homophobic, anti-semetic, etc.
That said, I find it incredibly brave of RDJ to stick up for his friend. That speaks volumes about his character.
I heart Robert and it was perfectly fine for him to voice that about Hollywood forgiving MEL because they would be hypocritical not too. My thing is they have forgiven Mel. But the public hasn’t and that is what counts. They can forgive him til the cows come home but if he is not bankable and bringing in the chips the way he used to then there ain’t enough forgiveness in the world that would put him back on top.
Personally, I found it really fake that Hollywood got all on their soapbox about him using the N word when they use it all the time in movies that have nothing to do with slavery or the civil rights movement.
Love RDJ and I understand that he’s grateful to Mel for what he did to help get back on track. But sorry Boo…it’s just way too late for me.
I used to be a big fan of Mel’s but after his arrest and his anti-Semitic and anti-women statements I sold all my dvds/videos with him in it at a garage sale and threw out what didn’t sell. It’s change the channel when he comes on. He’s not welcome in my house.
Mel needs to just go away for a year or two. Let the storm calm again. He is an amazing actor and writer/director. I was a fan of his films for years. Gosh the man has made some great films in front of and behind the camera.
but Mel doesn’t need the money and he can afford to take time off. Or do some independent films that he can put out of little money and let the audience come back to him slowly if they are going to. RDJ was given a chance.. and Mel was the reason. I so understand that. He is lucky that his past is not thrown up in his face. But it is still early, and Mel keeps talking so he needs to go away and let it calm down..
oops double post
OK.. RDJ and his wife are cute in that picture. Congrats on the baby. Oh I love her dress.
Mel actually looks better in those pictures then he has in a long time.
I think the problem Mel is having is the Powers that be in Hollywood have blacklisted him. And he can’t get jobs. That is a tough wall to break.
huge difference between the struggles of someone like RDJ and Mel. Addiction and the negative events that accompany that disease are VERY different from being a racist, homophobic, anti-semetic, misogynist.
i understand RDJ and Jodie Foster wanting to support their friend get help, but this kind of blind loyalty is really off putting.
@Incredulous, agree about the slap. First, he tried to minimize it as only a slap (not a punch), second he tried to *justify* it as necessary “to bring her back to reality”! He is a first-class creep who does not seem to feel sincere remorse, unlike RDJ, who clearly did though his actions were primarily harmful to himself rather than others (as others have said). I have mixed feelings about RDJ’s vocal support of Gibson. Though loyalty is commendable, it is coming to an extent from a “I’m loyal because he was very good to ME” place vs. an acknowledgment that this guy really hurt others.
my thoughts on Mel Gibson as a person are irrelevant really (loathsome)
if he makes good films I’ll watch them – in fact I was watching Apocalypto last night which is totally fantastic
but ‘forgive’? that suggests he’s sorry himself for the stuff he’s done and said and I’m not sure he is…
therefore in my eyes he’s a man who is quite talented but unfortunately quite horrible inside
Hollywood will never forgive Mel Gibson, because there is nothing left to forgive, he holds very radical right wing views about Jews and Gays and have insulted them for years, repeatedly refusing to apologize for his remarks and that of his crazy Holocaust denier father, making “The Passion of Christ” was the final nail in the coffin.
They have the same publicist and the same lawyer. That explains it right there.
Susan looks lovely in that gown. The color, the fit are both great. And I’m fully in support of Robert having a charmed life from here on out.
Unless your circle of friends consists only of people who believe what you believe politically and religiously, you should be able to get why he still cares for Mel. However, Mel has to atone for his own wrongs and I hope this is the extent of RDJ’s public support for him.
He alienated his fanbase (women basically), so even if producers want to give him a job, his participation in a movie will not be profitable.
People will only watch it despite of him, not because of him. What filmmaker would want that?
I think this is pretty consistent with who RDJ is. He is unwilling to condemn a man who has helped him in the past and clearly struggles with addiction. I respect him for putting himself out there because in no way did he suggest that Gibson was right or blameless. He simply pointed out the hypocrisy of forgiving some and not others.
Now Gibson has never publicly apologized for his behavior but maybe privately he has. Maybe RDJ knows something we don’t. I don’t know. Regardless, I respect the loyalty he shows to his friends at risk of his own reputation.
I respect RDJ for his loyalty but Mel’s homophobia, racism, anti-semitism, and abusive behavior is not something he can overcome in the public arena.
RDJ is very loyal, and it does speak very well of his character. Personally, I think the public isn’t that worked up about Mel Gibson, it’s more the industry that holds it against him. Just my hunch.
The US Weekly article mistakenly attributes to Robert some of the quotes from Mel’s tribute. It was Mel who called Robert courageous, not vice versa. EW has a better recap of Robert’s speech.
The posters here who write that “Mel refuses to apologize” couldn’t be more wrong. Mel has made repeated apologies, and in my opinion, he exhibits the shame and self-loathing of an addict over his scandals. He is never going to do a tell-all interview about his relationship with Oksana because they have a daughter together and he is extremely private about his family.
You attacked Jodie Foster for saying nice things about her friendship with him (without excusing his actions) and tried to say it wasn’t such a problem when Downey Jr defended Gibson because he didn’t do it as much. Yet you failed to see that clearly Downey Jr wasn’t in the situation Jodie Foster was in where she had to promote a film that was completely centered around Gibson playing a troubled man, so Downey didn’t have to endure a press tour where he was bombarded with nothing but Mel Gibson questions.
Downey Jr has just as much loyalty and closeness with Gibson as Foster does. They know the man and we don’t. Who are we to judge what some bipolar man said in a drunken rant to some golddigger when you have the likes of Johnny Depp publically defending Roman Polanski by saying he should be excused for his crime because he’s 76 and has a wife and kids now. I saw nobody bashing Johnny Depp and saying they wouldn’t be a fan or watch his movies anymore.
I think the prerequisite for any support is for mel to appologize publicly, not only for his rant towards his ex lady, but towards any woman who are abused in silent by the likes of him.
Why should the industry or I for that matter support someone who doesn’t have that basic decency to appologize for his abusive terrorizing behaviour ways. He insulted and abused a woman and her child. How a 50+ years old could insult a 12 years old and call him totally uncalled names without having the decency to apologizing is beyond me.
So no, Mel doesn’t deserve any support nor respect. He is a full grown adult who has abused a young boy too.
I can’t forgive and forget what Mel has done because he never felt like what he did was wrong. His “apologies” have always been half-assed. The whole “I slapped her with an open hand in the attempt to bring her back to reality” implies that a) it was with an open hand so it’s really no big deal, and b) it was to bring her back to reality- clearly, she was the one with a problem and he was trying to fix her problem.
I love RDJ! That is all.
Doesn’t it give him a pause knowing that the person he emulated to get sober is an abusive lout?
I’m glad that RDJ is sober. He’s a great actor and extremely talented and the entertainment field is better with him in it, BUT MG does not get a pass.
Why is MG so desperate to get back into HW anyway? He’s got a ton of cash even after the divorce to Robin. Retire and live life.
Mel is a multi-millionaire and has the money to personally finance an independent movie he can star in if he just wants to work. I do not feel sorry for him at all.
Actually, I think that neither Mel nor Oksana can discuss this matter anymore. I think this was stipulated as part of the resolution of the court case. So, theoretically, he really can’t ‘apologize’ for the physical abuse.
While I agree that RDJ’s plea reflects well on his character, I can’t help thinking that a lot of the time when HW ‘supports’ someone, it’s contingent on it being lucrative for HW down the line. Being attached to Woody Allen or Roman Polanski’s projects are lucrative to actors’ prestige because they are still active. Meanwhile, the HW community put up a big stink when Elia Kazan earned an honorary Oscar, when he ‘named names’ 50+ years before – curiously, he wasn’t an active filmmaker at the time of the honorary Oscar, so he incurred the wrath.
A couple of years ago, Forbes Mag or some outlet said that Mel was worth close to a billion dollars; therefore, he shouldn’t be hurting, in terms of creating his own projects. He should just do that. Of course, that doesn’t mean that anyone in HW will buy his product, but that’s an ‘Oh, well’. People can exercise choice, thank goodness, and Mel Gibson, like anyone else in the world, is subject to the greenlight or the hook. In that respect, Mel doesn’t deserve any swaddling.
Myself, I have never seen a Mel Gibson movie. Seen bits and pieces, but never seen anything of his in full. Therefore, my outrage at his behavior and vowing to not support his movies is an empty threat. So as far as I’m concerned, I can’t honestly say that Gibson is being blacklisted, legitimately or unfairly.
@pwal…Yes, the court agreement has forbidden Mel or Oksana to talk about their relationship.
Really, though, just because his private phone calls were secretly recorded and released on the internet 6 months later, followed by scores of emails and love letters, doesn’t mean that Mel Gibson owes any of us noisy gossips an apology.
There are children involved, and that’s why family court cases are kept sealed. Timothy Dalton has the right idea by saying nothing but “no comment.” The 12-year-old boy may have had no idea that Mel had called him names until the tapes were posted at Radar for all the world and his classmates to hear. A self-serving public apology from Mel to the kid would only create more publicity and victimize him further.
I agree with Kelly. If Mel wants to work, then he can finance and produce his own starring vehicle.
If RDJ wants to forgive him that’s all well and good, but that doesn’t mean I have to fork over my hard-earned money on a misogynist, abuser, racist, and all around crazy man.
Mel is a pig, plain and simple.
Gibson has also been responsible for some very watchable entertainment. I don’t think Polanski makes accessible current films, and he’s a pedophile rapist.
If Gibson makes something with his own money that entertains, then we’ll see.
@Lola (comment #2) Kudos to you, you have written the most intelligent and humanitarian comment I have EVER read on this site, despite the claim that hate,bigotry & racism are not acceptable,I see it in so many very poorly written comments.It amazes me how judgmental, unaccepting and truly ignorant people are, though so many would expect acceptance and forgiveness for they’re own inadequacies. Are we both somewhat amazed at the masses ignorance that we torture ourselves reading so much of this hate filled garbage most persons write?
Celebitchy- why didn’t you mention Mel’s anti-semitism and racism?
What a huge philanthropic move, RDJ. Your agent, publicist, attorney, and the scores of people they employ, thank you for your magnamity.
This is beautiful PR that means nothing.
@Seal Team Six “This is a guy who believes the VATICAN is too liberal…”
I want to preface every piece of news about Mel Gibson with that sentence. Never forget!
Those pics make me so mad! I can’t stop commenting! Because I’m so mad! What a waste of RDJ!
Where’s the Occupy Hollywood movement? Those douches are rolling in dough and “hire Mel Gibson” is the best cause they can rally around?
Torn. I adore RDJ.
Ok. 1, He views himself as being similar to Mel, but I wouldn’t exactly put them in the same boat regardless.
and 2, He’s totally projecting. He couldn’t stand it if the public never “forgave” him, and he is grateful we did. But unless Mel is constantly addicted to being a racist, sexist ass, then what’s the point. Plus, we’ve all seen Rob’s effort to change, and what came from Mel thus far…The Beaver?
CathyT wrote:The 12-year-old boy may have had no idea that Mel had called him names until the tapes were posted at Radar for all the world and his classmates to hear.
As i know as Oksana claimed that Mel offended boy many times in private. He was insulting the poor boy by several profanities such sa fa*got, pus-sy, c*nt etc.
Mel calls the boy a pus|sy several times on tapes which just happens to be one of his favorite profanity for guys he hates. You should just read the Playboy interview where he uses it for a particularly dispicable writer.
It was very clear that Alexander Dalton and Gibson don’t have a good relationship each other and Mel was very abusive to him too.
I doubt that Mel apologized to him sometime.
CathyT wrote:The 12-year-old boy may have had no idea that Mel had called him names until the tapes were posted at Radar for all the world and his classmates to hear.
As i know as Oksana claimed that Mel offended boy many times in private. He was insulting the poor boy by several profanities such as fa*got, pus-sy, c*nt etc.
Mel calls the boy a pus|sy several times on tapes which just happens to be one of his favorite profanity for guys he hates. You should just read the Playboy interview where he uses it for a particularly dispicable writer.
It was very clear that Alexander Dalton and Gibson didn’t have a good relationship each other and Mel was very abusive to him too.
I doubt that Mel apologized to him sometime.
RDJ is right. If Hollywood can forgive Mike Tyson and child rapist Roman Polanski it should forgive Mel. He is a great director and a pretty good actor too, makes great movies. Mel doesn’t owe anyone an apology except his children, ex-wife, Oksy and her son.
I hate Mel Gibson because he’s NOT Catholic. You heard right. Gibson is something called a “Radical Traditionalist.” Not Catholic at all. Traditionalists belong to a separate, fanatical church. They have their own bishop, their own weird belief system, and the strictest rules and regulations I have ever, ever seen.
Traditionalists give regular Catholics a bad name. The pretend to be Catholic. They even CALL themselves Catholic. But they are not Catholic.
Traditionalists hate everyone. Never before have I seen a church that encourages such hatred in its followers. Traditionalists hate Protestants, Jews, atheists, Buddhists, etc. They hate ordinary Catholics, too. They can’t stand how the regular Catholic Church has dialogue with non-Catholic people. They want the Church to go back to the way it was before Vatican II (1960’s); with the old Latin Mass, more rules, etc. And it’s not going to happen.
Traditionalists like Gibson are control freaks. They want to restrict and control everybody’s lives. They believe everything is a sin. Almost anything can send you to hell. Even BREATHING is some kind of sin. Traditionalists have thousands of rules and restrictions to control every aspect of their lives. Nothing must be left to chance.
Traditionalists often go into regular Catholic Churches and leave all kinds of fanatical books and papers lying around. They hope to corrupt ordinary Catholics into believing what they believe. They want everyone to be enslaved by guilt, fear and shame, just like them. They are the most evil people I have ever encountered in my life.
You will never hear Mel Gibson criticize his religion. Of course not. Traditionalists believe that even the tiniest complaint against their church will send you to hell. It must be massively stressful living under a system like that. And so Gibson no doubt takes out all his frustration and anger on those around him. Not good.
I think that there are some beliefs that are so evil, it is morally wrong to have them. Traditionalist beliefs are like that. A person has to be fundamentally evil to follow such a belief system. And therefore I think that Mel Gibson is fundamentally evil. I hate him the for believing these things, that almost ruined my own faith. I have no sympathy for him at all. He deserves everything bad that’s happening to him. I hope it gets worse and worse. It’s his own fault.
No thank you. He’s a nasty piece of work and I’m not a fan of his career. Very little he does appeals to me on any level.
CathyT wrote:he 12-year-old boy may have had no idea that Mel had called him names until the tapes were posted at Radar
As far as I know Mel should called the poor boy by profanities such as fag*ot, pus-sy, c*nt in private. Gibson also calls the poor boy a pus|sy several times on tapes which just happens to be one of his favorite profanities for guys he hates. You should just read the Playboy interview where he uses it for a particularly dispicable writer.
It was a very cleat that there was not a good relationship between Gibson and Alexander Dalton because of Gibson’s sick jealousy
Mel Gibson is just 55 years old?! My granpa looks much more better and he is in his seventies!
Mel Gibson is a misogynistic, racist and bible-thumping fool. Vile mouthed, raving lunatic with no anger control. He is a scourge on society, especially on women and children and he doesn’t believe that he did something wrong. There is no reason for forgiveness.
I’m not stopping him…
I’m not thinking of him…
Who’s being adressed, here?
Even with the useless viciousness of blogs, I’m sure these guys have more trangressions between them in a random yawn than much of what the internet allows. True, respect is frequently taken a sign of deviency in threads but I’m not inclined to put it on the same level as ‘I smacked my girlfriend around because we all hate her, amiright?’ While compassion isn’t only for the saints, my cynical side wonders if such effusiveness (in general) is displayed by the type of person who’s building up a rainy day fund of regard from which a cushier landing can soften the impact of the next fall from grace. I know that in the divorced from internet land of reality, I’d like to be remembered as St. Screw-Up, rather than something a little more tempered and sometimes accurate.
You can’t chasten that attitude completely, since it’s a hugely motivating force–would that we were all trained at the school of producing beautiful lies that gives off the sensation of a kind of fattened and happy trytophan haze without seeming entirely transparent. But I’m too short for Hollywood, so I guess it’s hypnotism and party subs for me.
Their passion is compelling, it just doesn’t really move me.
Maybe blog chat is keeping a bunch of the would-be psychopaths off the streets. His crimes don’t diminish mine, but I can’t will myself into feeling guilty for not having done more penance for the crime of not granting absolution quickly enough for the various PR squads to contenenance and so now I must pay homage to the transgressor and beg him to forgive me for not having done anything sooner about not having done anything, lest the cheering section remind me of how hateful I am for not having anything about a situation someone started. Does that make sense?
It’s like the oblivious schoolteacher who is oblivious and so wrapped up in favourtism that the kid getting bullied is supposed to apologize for not handling getting hit up for lunch money in a less victimized manner and blaming everyone else for your problems (that they created and exacerbated), and not evolving past it. Now apologize to bully for blaiming all of your problems on him and thank him for making you so crafty and lithe through starvation and fear because that’s a leader does.
He’s secured himself hype men and professional beggars on his behalf: damned, if I wish I had swagger like that. Gibson would make a very effective pimp.
This isn’t good. Abusers and women beaters getting support from a community that is supposed to stand up for what is ideal and right. I cannot accept Mel Gibson, Charlie Sheen and Chris Brown getting second chances. Wrap up their career, let them be forgotten. They should have done jail time for the things they did, at least let them vanish into celebrity oblivion.
Like many of you here, I’m not going to rag on RDJ for saying what he said about Mel. I understand his reasons, in some ways I do think he’s right. As a public I think we need to let it go, not forgive Mel or forget the the things he said. But we need to let it go.
That being said, even though Mel made many offensive comments and is all the things we’ve said above: abuser, racist, mysogynist, anti-semite; I will not allow those things to take away from his amazing abilities as an actor or director. It’s like being able to acknowledge Michael Jackson as an amazing musician while also acknowledging that he probably was a pedophile too. In death we’ve pretty much forgotten the idea that Michael Jackson was accused several times of being a pedophile. Does Mel have to be dead for us to acknowledge the good things about him? Besides, we are better off ignoring the archaic views of those like Mel Gibson. By giving him attention focusing only on what he’s done wrong, you only give him more of a platform to spread their messages of hate.
This is more about support and loyalty; kudos to Robert. Hollywood is full of sanctimonious windbags who act like they are experts on everything, from motherhood to relationships to body image to politics. I am sure if the press were to dig deeper, there are a lot more nasty douche bags than we can imagine. I am not excusing Mel’s behavior, but Hollywood hypocrites make me want to barf.
well, I have many alcoholics in my family so I have a different opinion. I have seen family members who are the most, wonderful, caring people, turn into horrible jerks when drunk. They say things that hurt and are stupid. But when they sober up, they are harder on themselves than I could ever be. They have to live with the pain they have caused, and when they are in their right mind, it is almost unbearable for them. Luckily, none of my relatives have been taped when they are in this state and none of them are rich and have people pushing their buttons so that they can blackmail them later. Alcohoism affects the poor and the rich…it is a horrible disease that causes heartbreak in families…I know…so I won’t be judging anyone except RDJ…and I judge him to be a caring human being…
Mel must really love being in showbiz given that from now until the day he dies someone is always going to be prepared to kick him in the teeth everytime he puts himself out there.
There are so many other equally racist, misogynistic [one only has to look at the chauvinistic casting process in Hollywood, Michael Bey anyone?], douchebag [Shia Lebeouf, etc] and yes, anti-Semitic [although don’t admit it] people in Hollywood that I don’t see the logic in the argument against Mel Gibson working. Hollywood even gave an Oscar to Polanski, whose film wasn’t necessarily Oscar worthy, but was given because of its subject matter and guilt.
As for Mel Gibson’s last ‘girlfriend’. She made the choice to be with him and also endure/provoke abuse so as to record him. Come on, one has to be blind not to notice that.
And as for some above comments mentioning Gibson’s views about the Vatican, what about Scientology and its tentacles in Hollywood? Travolta still works. Alley still works [even though she has no talent to speak of but rave about her fat arse] and Tom Cruise.
Mel Gibson has as much a right to work in Hollywood as anyone else, and it’s not as though he didn’t bring it. He made the Hollywood honchos millions.
The public has lost interest in him–The Beaver flopped. People no longer care. He had his moment in the 80s and 90s, and now that moment has passed.
I really don’t like Mel Gibson because we all liked some of his movies and perhaps being naive we thought that he was cool like his characters that he played. But reality seems very different. Now there is no point anymore for defenders of this shithead, because there is enough proof that he is a woman beating, terrorizing son of a bitch. I’ll never watch the movies of this overrated actor and sad excuse of a human being. It makes me happy his carreer is over.
His horrible behavior has overshadowed any other accomplishments. All I see when I see Mel is an abusive drunk. It leads me to wonder what other things he may have done and that’s not what I want in an entertainer.
I understand RDJ’s desire to help him but no dice.
I love RDJ and he can do no wrong in my book. And this is just another example of his rock solid character. Mel gave him a second chance at working when no one else would touch him. He’s now repaying the favor. That he would stand by a man who has so publicly shamed himself shows what a fine man is RDJ. He has a lot to loose by doing this but he put it out there anyway. I respect him for that as much as anything else he has done.
Sure Mel is certifiable. But not everyone sees the side of Mel that he showed Oxana-whatever her name is. And I’m sure she did her part in driving him nuts. She could have walked away long before he erupted into that kind of violence. When a man is losing it you do NOT keep getting in his face if you value your hide. I’m not excusing Mel but there are two sides and we don’t know all the details of their interaction.
I’m of the same opionion as RDJ. I’ve made enough mistakes in my life that I’m not throwing stones at anyone. Ever. While I may not want to watch any new movies Mel may make I do think he deserves another chance at using the talent that made him a superstar in the first place. There is good in him despite his awful mistakes.
@Jaxx Something to keep in mind is that while Oksana’s actions in exploiting Mel were bad, she may not have had a chance to walk away that’s the catch 22 of DV relationships.
@Cereulan Rhetorical hypothetical question: if you had an accountant who was really good and saved you a lot of money, would you fire him for being a douchebag or would you tolerate his douchy behavior because you know he will save you a lot of money? It’s the same with Mel. He is a talented individual and I think many people looked the other way in regards to his views for many years. I think that many of his contemporaries (like RDJ and Jody) in Hollywood wil forgive him and look the other way because they know he is a talented individual. You want to rub the dirt off the diamond to make it sparkle, especially when the sparkle shows off something valuable.
Oh, and RDJ’s wife looks radiantly happy. I’m thrilled for their happiness. They deserve it.
Downey went to jail for his transgressions, he paid his debt.
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When we say that about Michael Vick, people feel it’s not enough. That he should be punished for eternity. Why a pass for some people and eternal damnation for others?
Polanski and Woody Allen should never work again in HW? But actors would sell the children to be in an Allen film. Polanski is a pedifile but he gets forgiven? Why?
@flan – very well said.
Michael Jackson is not a good comparison IMO as nothing was ever proven except that those families were con artists. I mean you can still think he’s a pedophile and everything but that will be based on your thoughts alone.
We have actual proof that Mel said and did the things he was accused of even if some of those things happened in private. No that doesn’t take away from his talent, but if I thought Michael was guilty and there was strong evidence that said he was-and not some media hell bent on tearing that man down-I wouldn’t care how talented he was. I would not support him. Just as I am not supporting Mel. I survived sexual abuse and I definitely take it seriously. And I think that’s how a lot of people feel. Yes what he said, some if it was private, but a few years back he made anti-Semitic remarks to a police officer. Clearly he needs help with his issues, but he has proven that he does have them and we’ve heard it from his own mouth.
ETA: I think that Mel can be redeemed as almost anyone can and if he really got help an made some change and public saw him for the better, they could work with him and forgive him, but I agree with those who point out the Hypocrisy of Hollywood and that’s what I said earlier. Don’t even get me started on Woody Despicable Allen and his partner pedophilia Polanski. The way people defense these monsters are sick and then had a nerve to come at others for doing less than.
Love you RDJ. Sure, I can forgive Mel. But it doesn’t mean I will ever see any movie he ever has any part in again. Because I know he hasn’t changed – he hasn’t even shown an inkling of understanding that what he has done is wrong.
Forgiving means I don’t actively hate him. But I’ll steer clear, thanks very much. And I suppose, that will hit him where it hurts – in his wallet.
I don’t think anyone has forgotten has forgotten MJ’s court scandals, not one. Let’s just cast out the idea of sympathy, anger, presumed guilt or presumed innocence or what-have-you for the moment and recognize that MJ’s name was pulled into this conversation of the ether and without prompting and has found a pretty much unchallenged spot on this thread as if woven into it from the beginning. The only thing I’m saying is that no one has forgotten, or will and I don’t remember having ever seen evidence to contrary: they’re one and the same, now.
Some Hollywood figures have the teflon touch, Downey is proving that Gibson isn’t one of them. Whether you think that’s fair is immaterial, whether friends of the accused think we should pay with our hearts and let the work follow is immaterial. The Money.
It’s just naive to think that the industry is suddenly going to bank a well, hasbeen, out of pity just to watch the money get flushed. Don’t appeal to soul of Hollywood, it doesn’t exist. If the world that has been extremely kind to financially is being asked to part with its not abundant dollars to make an extremely wealthy man extremely wealthy + 1 make another Jerry Springfield movie. Pitiful is more lucrative than pity and when a prospective audience sees a display that it perceives to be a sob story telethon, you’re putting yourself in dangerous ‘release the hounds’ territory, it’s a tough balancing act.
It’s harder to move past the trangressions of a person in his position not because he’s an asshole (remember ‘oven dodgers’ when composing that Tombeau de Gibson), but because he got to have the dream we want and will never have for a lot of arbitrary and stupid reasons and rather than lead of life of perpetual humility and remebering that save his lottery win, he’s no more deserving than the rest of us in the gutter and remembering his place, I guess, he tossed away my dream and wants to take it back from me with no acknowledge or penance. Then, to have the gall to act as the wounded party, forced to suffer our provincialism, someone’s going to bristle at the idea that at some point his life became a fairground attraction and he has to ask strangers to be allowed to live it and within their stipulations.
I think in the last few months, rather than feel anger towards Gibsons, a lot of apathy has settled in over anger. It’s not ‘Why should I see these films’ anymore, it’s ‘why bother, is anything better on?’
I still think the whole thing with Mel resulted from the sad combination of alcoholism and the constant taunting from a gold-digging trollop.
@Cat and her 3 repeated posts…Oksana NEVER alleged that Mel called her son names…or at least she never leaked the allegation to Radar or TMZ.
@Andy…your description of traditional Catholicism is ignorant at best and bigoted at worse.
@3 Brittney. I can’t agree that RDJ’s crimes were ‘victimless’ . The drug trade is brutal, from the fields where opium and coca is produced to the labs where it is processed into heroin and cocaine and throughout the distribution network. (See: Mexico). None of it would exist without end users like RDJ.
Since RDJ was a user for many years, it’s likely that more women and children suffered from his actions than from Mel’s. But they had brown skin and no tape recorder.
The problem is not Hollywood. Hollywood’s only rules are dollars.
Since his very public insane multiple outburts where he could have appologized right away to minimize the impact, the public has turned his back on him and is fed up by his antics as seen on his project with Jody Foster that was a major massive bomb.
Why would Hollywood of all industries invest in him so soon after this setback and message from the public that they don’t want Mel anymore ?
Hollywood isn’t a philantropic enterprise where it invests in a project where the character triggers disgust in a great deal of potential viewers who don’t want to watch him anymore and weigh a lot in the commercial success.
Sorry, like for anyone, he will have to go through that redemption period and keep a low profile for a while.
If he was smart he would have donated to some organisation for battered women, enroled in some very public redemption campaign, advertising this with finesse but still very visibly.
That’s how things work. For some that redmption period is shorter because they handled it quicker, for others it’s longer.
With Mel arrogant, unapologetic ways it will be longer before people forget and mainly forgive.
If he had appologized as soon as the tapes were leaked out and said that he could have handled his personal business without refering to name calling and physical threats and abusive ways that no responsible man should tell to a woman and that he will deal with it privately with Oksana from now on, it will have diffused the impact of that mess.
He did wrong, he pays the price and no rebate for him ! His arrogant ass doesn’t deserve it anyway !
Who Hollywood forgives is one thing. As others have said, if they can forgive Polanski, then sure, eventually, they can forgive Mel Gibson, if it pays to do so.
But as a viewer, I don’t want to see anything any of these people are involved with. Not even necessarily because of what they did, but because of their attitude about it. Polanski is by all accounts a really sweet guy – but a really sweet guy who has never acknowledged that he drugged and raped a minor.
Similarly, Mel Gibson may be a sweetheart to his friends, but he’s a sweetheart who has some SERIOUS issues with racism, misogyny, homophobia, anger management and alcoholism, and his public pronouncements haven’t included much in the way of acknowledgement of responsibility. They’ve been statements to the effect that yes, he did bad things, BUT… (insert justification here).
I get that Jodie and Whoopi and now RDJ want to stick up for their friend, because they only see the nice side of him. If they recognise his issues, they probably also want to stick by him and make him well. Personally though, I look at Mel Gibson and I see a horrendous human being who wants now to be forgiven without ever acknowledging that he’s done anything wrong. Forgiveness doesn’t work like that.
Mel Gibson is a supreme talent. All public people are set up this way; They have talent, they are allowed a certain freedom others do not enjoy, they are supplied with what will ultimately be their own downfall in vices that can and will be used against them, meanwhile every detail is duly recorded. If they play as told all is well. If they do not, the “vices” are dragged out for all the world to see and judge, as many of you here have. Sheep and monkeys are predictable as previous study proves. Politicians are controlled in this way as well.
This is the level of h3ll you are all living in. The trick is to see the truth of the ones behind his “fall from grace”. Look deeper my friends.
Sugar Tits has lost all of his appeal, his “shine” to me. (And agree with Lenore – I wanted to watch True Lies, but when I realised I’d also have to see Ahnold, I put it back on the shelf.)
CathyT: Not true that Oksana never alleged that Mel called her son names.
She claims in her declaration: “Petitioner also called my a c*nt and Faggot on numerous occasions. To hear a grown man call a young boy such disgusting words was shocking, to least to say. Ever though i begged him to stopped saying those things to Sasha, he continued to do so.”
Don’t forget that when the whole Oksana/Mel relationship broke it became very clear there was some sort of issue with Mel and Sasha. There were claims that they weren’t living together because Oksana didn’t want to disrupt Sasha’s life and it was reported more than once that they Oksana and Mel went their seperate ways at the end of the day.
All this kind of claims could be interpreted very differently nowadays in context to all terrible things which happened.
After listening to the tapes it’s OBVOIUS MG had an issue with Sasha and given how vindictive and ferocious Gibson can be, only a big idiot would think it was cuz of something Alexander did. After belittling the boy Oksana even called Mel mean and monster. She even explains her prior solution to building a better bond was quality Lakers-time together, after he’d complained bitterly about having to sell the box seats.
Don’t really care for Mel one way or the other, just here for the hotness that is RDJ.
It’s time to get over it
This makes me think less of RDJ. He’s a vile apologist for Gibson.
@Andy: You go Bud! It’s hard to support the Church with all the girl and boy molesters, much less explain Mel Gibson.
I think there are 2 issues here. One, the beliefs Mel proclaimed so loudly are covered by freedom of speech. You can say what you want, but must accept the consequences of your words.
What RDJ (not a fave, but my true love Colin Farrell presented him the award, so o.k. Conditionally.) is saying is give the guy a job.
I agree that Mel hasn’t publicly apologized for his comments. He owed a public apology because that is what people (not privy to his private – if that – remorse.) need to here so forgiveness can begin. For a whack job Catholic, he seems to gloss over the cleansing acts of confession and contrition. He is a public figure, made awful public remarks and owed all who heard him an apology.
I will say publicly: I adore Colin Farrell.
After reading some very well reasoned arguments on here I have changed my mind. I said I wouldn’t throw stones at him and perhaps he should be allowed to work. However, after listening to people here point out that Mel has never shown an ounce of remorse for what he has done, nor asked forgiveness at any time I do think Mel needs much more time in the dog house. Because you guys saying this are right. He isn’t asking forgiveness now, he is asking us to forget. Not going to happen. He has indeed left out of very large step in the process of rehabilitation. Which likely means everyone else is to blame for his shameful behavior.
I don’t think Mel has hugged the cactus.
RDJ, YOU can forgive MG, I’ll continue to believe the man is a piece of shit. Everyone’s happy.
He has been forgiven and he has worked. Unfortunately, no one wants to see what he’s done. Mel did that to himself.
Honestly some of these comments are amusing.
What about Woody Allen and Roman Polanski – both are molesters of under aged girls, and yet they are celebrated in Hollywood. Polanksi even got an Oscar after the fact. Most actors gush over Allen. Yet Gibson is made a pariah.
RDJ makes a valid point because at one point, because some of you have short memories, RDJ was a pariah in Hollywood. Not because he said anti-Semitic comments, but because he was one of the biggest druggies going around and the most unreliable actor. If Gibson was that much of an arsehole, he could have said no to RDJ, because Gibson at the time wielded a lot of power. But he didn’t.
We are none of us perfect. If he makes good films I will watch them.
I am a woman and I think this ugly chick he was involved with is a gold digger.
Leave the man alone and let his personal life be just that, personal.