Can Mel Gibson save his career after his anti-Semitic remarks?

[ABlairican Pie]

Is Mel Gibson's career in deep trouble over his drunken slurs against Jewish people? Or can he salvage his reputation?

[Brad Russ]

Of course he can salvage it. Look at R. Kelly, Roman Polansky, Hugh Grant, and others. If they can keep their careers going after the sick things they did while sober, then I have no reason to believe Mel won't be able to.

[gilligan fanatic]

what about Martha Stewart, she is back on the top

[Ireneparalegal]

Woody Allen anyone????? HELLO????? He had a sexual thing going on with his own daughter, while married, and then married the girl and had a child with her!!!!!!!! Doesn't make a difference if she is adopted. I am adopted. Doesn't make a difference...SICK BASTARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please, people should be upset that Mel could have KILLED SOMEONE while driving, not saying stupid stuff. Since when is saying things like that against the law????? People say hateful stuff everyday. Driving drunk is a serious matter.

[Brad Russ]

what about Martha Stewart, she is back on the top

Exactly!!! Not to mention all the celebrities who constantely bash, and make blasphemous jokes about Christians, and Christianity. But of course there's nothing wrong with being an anti-Christ. :rolleyes:

[LucyCompanyPhan]

Yeah. Even if he doesn't have major studios backing him, it wouldn't be hard to get whatever movie he wants made. He's worth 100s of millions and he made Passion with most of his own money. If he wants to come back on top, he can easily do it.

And like everyone said, people for forgiving in hollywood. If he comes back with something people like, he can do it.

[LucyCompanyPhan]

Woody Allen anyone????? HELLO????? He had a sexual thing going on with his own daughter, while married, and then married the girl and had a child with her!!!!!!!! Doesn't make a difference if she is adopted. I am adopted. Doesn't make a difference...SICK BASTARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please, people should be upset that Mel could have KILLED SOMEONE while driving, not saying stupid stuff. Since when is saying things like that against the law????? People say hateful stuff everyday. Driving drunk is a serious matter.

It was his long time girlfriend/wife's (not sure which one) adopted daughter...making him a step father of her. I'm just pointing this out because it wasn't technically incest. Although I agree it's pretty gross and twisted and wrong for so many reasons.

[Ireneparalegal]

It was his long time girlfriend/wife's (not sure which one) adopted daughter...making him a step father of her. I'm just pointing this out because it wasn't technically incest. Although I agree it's pretty gross and twisted and wrong for so many reasons.
Thank you for clarifying that.

[AKA]

I wish the man no ill will, and as I've stated in other threads, hope he can conquer his demons. But after all the controversy regarding Judiasm that surrounded Mel's father and The Passion two years ago, what he said during his arrest seems to me like career suicide. Drunk or not, the anti-Semitic remarks came from somewhere, and the sheer fact that he uttered them will make things hard for him - at least for the forseeable future.

But who knows? Everyone likes a comeback story.

[Stuck In The '70's]

Exactly!!! Not to mention all the celebrities who constantely bash, and make blasphemous jokes about Christians, and Christianity. But of course there's nothing wrong with being an anti-Christ. :rolleyes:
I've heard them call Christians nazi's and everything else out there. They also like to make jokes about them all the time. Nobody should look on Hollywood as a role model. They live in there own world. Roman Polanski can't even step foot in the U.S. but he still makes movies and he still get's nominated for Academy Awards.

[Ireneparalegal]

Mel also made a remark abt the FEMALE officer, something abt her body I believe...should all women hate him too???? God, the man was drunk, drunks say stupid things all the time. Drunks yell they are going to kill someone, they yell they are going to sue the police...they yell they are gonna call their attorney, they yell a lot of things, stupid things, funny things, etc. Doesn't mean a damn thing.

[AKA]

Mel also made a remark abt the FEMALE officer, something abt her body I believe...should all women hate him too???? God, the man was drunk, drunks say stupid things all the time. Drunks yell they are going to kill someone, they yell they are going to sue the police...they yell they are gonna call their attorney, they yell a lot of things, stupid things, funny things, etc. Doesn't mean a damn thing.

Nobody said anyone should hate anybody else. I simply stated that he's going to have a hard time finding work in Hollywood after his remarks. That's all.

[Ireneparalegal]

Nobody said anyone should hate anybody else. I simply stated that he's going to have a hard time finding work in Hollywood after his remarks. That's all.
No, I wasn't referring to you, just making a generalization, comment.

[Janice]

It remains to be seen if Gibson's career is toast or not. It's too soon to tell. Some recover from scandal, while others don't. If the guy is an anti-Semite, I have no use for him. His latest statement claims he's not. The wacky juice can make people say some out there stuff.

I know he had a hard time for years trying to get The Passion made. Everyone turned it down. There are a lot of Jews in Hollywood, and perhaps many of them turned him down. Gibson could harbor resentment about that deep down, and it just poured out when he was trashed. I'm not defending him. It's just a theory I'm tossing out there.

Or he could be a raging Jew hater. Or he could love Jews and has no idea himself where the tirade came from. We don't know what's in his heart.

He has apologized profusely. For some reason, I think he'll end up okay. Jesse Jackson did just fine after calling New York "Hymetown".

[ABlairican Pie]

MSNBC.com

Did Gibson’s apology come too late?
‘In the first 24 hours, people start forming opinions’ says one manager
The Associated Press


Updated: 7:44 p.m. PT Aug 1, 2006
LOS ANGELES - Mel Gibson’s Tuesday apology for an anti-Semitic rant after his drunken driving arrest came several days too late, celebrity crisis management experts say.

It was the star’s first acknowledgment that he spewed anti-Jewish slurs at Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy James Mee early Friday — a tirade that could threaten his career and the December release of his film “Apocalypto,” in which he and Disney invested tens of millions of dollars.

“In the first 24 hours, people start forming opinions,” said Richard Levick, whose Washington firm represents several celebrity clients. “He has constantly been behind the story and needs to get out front. What he’s done through actions is turned perception into reality. People presume he is anti-Semitic.”

The cloud of anti-Semitism has followed Gibson since the 2004 film “The Passion of the Christ,” which many Jews felt unfairly portrayed Jews’ role in the death of Jesus. The issue intensified after interviews with Gibson’s father, who called the Holocaust mostly “fiction.”

Levick said that while the film became a blockbuster despite the controversy — or because of it — this is Gibson’s last chance to prove he isn’t a bigot.

“Mel Gibson has a very high trust bank with audiences,” Levick said. “And that is in jeopardy. This is at a tipping point right now.”

In a sign that the Gibson camp gained some ground Tuesday, several Jewish leaders offered reserved praise for Gibson’s apology. They said it was an improvement over a statement Gibson issued Saturday that only vaguely referred to “despicable” remarks.

Just another ‘publicist statement’
“It addresses the issue, it addresses the substance,” said Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League. “I have two caveats. One, it’s another publicist statement and makes me a little bit uncomfortable because the publicist issued the statement earlier in the week. To what extent is it a true reflection of Mel Gibson’s true feeling? The other issue is two years ago when we dealt with the issue of ‘The Passion of the Christ,’ the same publicist reached out to me and told me how much Mel Gibson respects me and what kind of good guy he is, and [that] Mel Gibson wants to meet. Well, did I meet you? We never met.”

The delay in having Gibson address the issue of anti-Semitism raised questions of insincerity, celebrity handler Michael Sitrick said.

“From the outside looking in,” said Sitrick, whose Los Angeles firm represents such troubled clients as talk show host Rush Limbaugh, singer R. Kelly and drummer Tommy Lee. “I would’ve recommended that he say, ‘These remarks that were attributed to me do not represent my beliefs and I am embarrassed and humiliated and upset at myself if those words came out of my mouth when I was drinking.”

The latest apology, released by Gibson publicist Alan Nierob, was closer to the mark, Sitrick said.

“I want to apologize to everyone in the Jewish community for the vitriolic and harmful words that I said to a law enforcement officer the night I was arrested on a DUI charge,” Tuesday’s statement said.

Gibson also said he had begun a recovery program and said he planned to meet with Jewish leaders “to discern the appropriate path for healing.”

Media image consultant Michael Sands, however, dismissed Gibson’s apology as a cynical spin falsely attributing Gibson’s anti-Semitism to alcohol.

“By Mel coming out with this latest statement, he is grasping for straws,” said Sands. “It seems to me he sat around with his publicist and said, ‘Hey, what do you think of this?”’

Veteran publicist Michael Levine, who called Gibson’s public relations representatives “the best team money can buy,” commended Nierob, who said Tuesday he was the only public relations professional assisting Gibson in the matter.

“Today’s statement is particularly wise,” Levine said. “The best defense is a good offense and the only offense is a relentless one.”

The approach taken by Nierob, a vice president at stalwart publicity firm Rogers & Cowan, takes the “four principles of celebrity crisis” into account, Levine said: speed, humility, contrition and personal responsibility.

“If you go with those four things, you generally do pretty well in America,” Levine said.

© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14140817/

[romanov1@suscom-main]

I think Mel Gibson will be able to save his carrer because he's admitted he did it and he's apologized and is allready trying to to meet with Jewish people to apologize.
http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,19649,00.html?fdnews

[AKA]

So Mel states that he's not an anti-Semite. Okay, I'll take him on his word. Only he and God know what's truly in his heart, and as I stated earlier, Jesus taught forgiveness. I forgive him.

Nevermind his career. His well-being - both physical and emotion - should be what comes first (I've had to learn that the hard way). I hope he can get the help he needs to recover from this. The old AA statement is that "admitting you have a problem is the first step toward recovery." Mel admitted he has a problem. Good on him.

But the question remains, is Mel a rabid anti-Dentite?

[theshark8777]

Still those remarks came from somewhere. He just didn't make them up on the spot. I think his career may suffer in the short turn, but this country has a short memory, especially to celebs, and I think he will probably come out of it just fine in the long run. Like Irene said look at Woody Allen, Hugh Grant, etc. Everyone loves a comeback. Even Pee Wee is finally making a comeback after 15 years!

[Zebra 3]

I want him to sober up and get busy on a Mad Max sequel.

[TJL]

He'll probably lay low for a while, go to rehab, get cleaned up. Although his new movie "Apocalypto" is staled for release this December, it's been speculated the studio releasing the movie (Diseny I think) will push it back to next year, to let this controversy die down.

Personally, I think the guy made a mistake. He's not the only celebrity to shoot himself in the foot, so I think he deserves a second chance.

Besides, Mel has been on the outs in Hollywood ever since "Passion" came out. Not because he pissed off a segment of the jewish pooulation, but because he showed that a movie with a strong religious message can make a ton of money.
Mel did it his way, and he laughed all the way to the bank.

[Janice]

Mel Gibson and the Politics of Bigotry

L. Brent Bozell III

Since he’s made no effort to deny them, one has to accept that the police report was accurate and that in a drunken stupor Gibson hurled those anti-Semitic insults. He has been humiliated and in his unequivocal apology, humbled. “There is no excuse, nor should there be any tolerance, for anyone who thinks or expresses any kind of anti-Semitic remark. I want to apologize specifically to everyone in the Jewish community for the vitriolic and harmful words that I have said…”

Gibson’s remarks were disgraceful. But is Gibson now to be disgraced? And who is qualified to make that judgment?

The paparazzi news media can’t get enough of this story, and some, like ABC’s Diane Sawyer, can barely conceal their glee. The hard news covered, here comes the analysis, with this-man-will-never-get-another-job-in-this-town reports everywhere you turn, fueled by the likes of Arianna Huffington who has denounced Gibson’s “odious racism” and her colleague Ari Emanuel, who writes that “…the entertainment industry cannot idly stand by and allow Mel Gibson to get away with such tragically inflammatory statements… Now we know the truth. And no amount of publicist-approved contrition can paper it over. People in the entertainment community, whether Jew or gentile, need to demonstrate that they understand how much is at stake in this by professionally shunning Mel Gibson and refusing to work with him… There are times in history when standing up against bigotry and racism is more important than money.” Others like Christopher Hitchens, Joy Behar, Barbara Walters, and Sony Pictures chairwoman Amy Pascal have piled on with their denouncements of this religious bigotry.

The first thing Mel Gibson and everyone else should do is ignore people like these.

They are hypocrites.

They were nowhere to be found when “Da Vinci Code” actor Ian McKellen publicly accused the Catholic Church of “perhaps misleading us all this time,” and stated “the Bible should have a disclaimer in the front saying this is fiction.” And what of the movie itself, a bigoted anti-Catholic screed if ever there was one? Any denouncements from them?

Where were they when Comedy Central’s Dennis Leary aired his “Merry F*ing Christmas” special, publicly called the Christmas story “bull[bleep]” and said of the baby Jesus and the Virgin Mary, “I also believe that about nine months before he was born, somebody sure as [bleep] banged the hell out of his mom”? Any religious bigotry there, folks?

Have any of these people ever said a word about the South Park DVD featuring an episode called “Red Hot Catholic Love,” in which almost every Catholic priest and cardinal in the world favors having sex with altar boys because supposedly it’s been enshrined in Vatican law? What about the South Park episode aired on television depicting a statue of the Virgin Mary with blood coming out her rectum?

There was that contestant “Tammy” who thought she was very funny on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” when she joked that “It’s a good time to be Catholic ‘cause we’re grading on the curve. As long as you’re not touching pee-pees you got a get-out-of-hell-free card.” Did Gibson’s critics condemn her – or did they laugh? How about Penn and Teller’s skit on their HBO show about Mother Teresa, one of the world’s holiest women and presently on the fast-track toward sainthood? The title -- “Mother F—ing Teresa” – tells you all you need to know.

Barbara Walters and Co., where were you?

Arianna, where were you when one wag said of Pope John Paul the Great’s teachings on sexuality that “in his perversion pecking order, you had to be dead-set against ‘self-love’ but when it came to buggering little kids, there was some wiggle room”? Oh wait a minute. Those were your words, weren’t they?

How about the TV show “Committed” that featured a scene in which the main characters accidentally flush what they believe to be the Sacred Host down a toilet? Or “Judging Amy” with its storyline about a transvestite priest? What about the show “Rescue Me” with its plots about pedophilic priests and the character who has visions of Christ and Mary Magdalene, including one in which “Tommy” is having sex with Mary Magdalene, Jesus catches them and in a jealous rage tries to blow Tommy away with a shotgun?

The examples of anti-Christian, anti-Catholic bigotry in Hollywood are seemingly endless. Each and every one is uglier, more mean-spirited than anything Mel Gibson said. While Gibson’s comments were those of a slobbering drunk, these anti-Catholic rants were not just deliberate, in most cases they were scripted . And while Gibson has apologized profusely, none of the people cited above has any intention of showing contrition because they have none.

Gibson’s statements were awful, and deserved condemnation. But the anti-Catholic bigotry raging in Hollywood is far worse. Those who suddenly proclaim themselves to be shocked – shocked I tell you! – over Gibson’s religious bigotry, but have remained silent all these years as the Catholic Church is mercilessly pummeled, ridiculed and insulted, are frauds.

[Brad Russ]

Mel Gibson and the Politics of Bigotry

L. Brent Bozell III

Since he’s made no effort to deny them, one has to accept that the police report was accurate and that in a drunken stupor Gibson hurled those anti-Semitic insults. He has been humiliated and in his unequivocal apology, humbled. “There is no excuse, nor should there be any tolerance, for anyone who thinks or expresses any kind of anti-Semitic remark. I want to apologize specifically to everyone in the Jewish community for the vitriolic and harmful words that I have said…”

Gibson’s remarks were disgraceful. But is Gibson now to be disgraced? And who is qualified to make that judgment?

The paparazzi news media can’t get enough of this story, and some, like ABC’s Diane Sawyer, can barely conceal their glee. The hard news covered, here comes the analysis, with this-man-will-never-get-another-job-in-this-town reports everywhere you turn, fueled by the likes of Arianna Huffington who has denounced Gibson’s “odious racism” and her colleague Ari Emanuel, who writes that “…the entertainment industry cannot idly stand by and allow Mel Gibson to get away with such tragically inflammatory statements… Now we know the truth. And no amount of publicist-approved contrition can paper it over. People in the entertainment community, whether Jew or gentile, need to demonstrate that they understand how much is at stake in this by professionally shunning Mel Gibson and refusing to work with him… There are times in history when standing up against bigotry and racism is more important than money.” Others like Christopher Hitchens, Joy Behar, Barbara Walters, and Sony Pictures chairwoman Amy Pascal have piled on with their denouncements of this religious bigotry.

The first thing Mel Gibson and everyone else should do is ignore people like these.

They are hypocrites.

They were nowhere to be found when “Da Vinci Code” actor Ian McKellen publicly accused the Catholic Church of “perhaps misleading us all this time,” and stated “the Bible should have a disclaimer in the front saying this is fiction.” And what of the movie itself, a bigoted anti-Catholic screed if ever there was one? Any denouncements from them?

Where were they when Comedy Central’s Dennis Leary aired his “Merry F*ing Christmas” special, publicly called the Christmas story “bull[bleep]” and said of the baby Jesus and the Virgin Mary, “I also believe that about nine months before he was born, somebody sure as [bleep] banged the hell out of his mom”? Any religious bigotry there, folks?

Have any of these people ever said a word about the South Park DVD featuring an episode called “Red Hot Catholic Love,” in which almost every Catholic priest and cardinal in the world favors having sex with altar boys because supposedly it’s been enshrined in Vatican law? What about the South Park episode aired on television depicting a statue of the Virgin Mary with blood coming out her rectum?

There was that contestant “Tammy” who thought she was very funny on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” when she joked that “It’s a good time to be Catholic ‘cause we’re grading on the curve. As long as you’re not touching pee-pees you got a get-out-of-hell-free card.” Did Gibson’s critics condemn her – or did they laugh? How about Penn and Teller’s skit on their HBO show about Mother Teresa, one of the world’s holiest women and presently on the fast-track toward sainthood? The title -- “Mother F—ing Teresa” – tells you all you need to know.

Barbara Walters and Co., where were you?

Arianna, where were you when one wag said of Pope John Paul the Great’s teachings on sexuality that “in his perversion pecking order, you had to be dead-set against ‘self-love’ but when it came to buggering little kids, there was some wiggle room”? Oh wait a minute. Those were your words, weren’t they?

How about the TV show “Committed” that featured a scene in which the main characters accidentally flush what they believe to be the Sacred Host down a toilet? Or “Judging Amy” with its storyline about a transvestite priest? What about the show “Rescue Me” with its plots about pedophilic priests and the character who has visions of Christ and Mary Magdalene, including one in which “Tommy” is having sex with Mary Magdalene, Jesus catches them and in a jealous rage tries to blow Tommy away with a shotgun?

The examples of anti-Christian, anti-Catholic bigotry in Hollywood are seemingly endless. Each and every one is uglier, more mean-spirited than anything Mel Gibson said. While Gibson’s comments were those of a slobbering drunk, these anti-Catholic rants were not just deliberate, in most cases they were scripted . And while Gibson has apologized profusely, none of the people cited above has any intention of showing contrition because they have none.

Gibson’s statements were awful, and deserved condemnation. But the anti-Catholic bigotry raging in Hollywood is far worse. Those who suddenly proclaim themselves to be shocked – shocked I tell you! – over Gibson’s religious bigotry, but have remained silent all these years as the Catholic Church is mercilessly pummeled, ridiculed and insulted, are frauds.

:clap: Very good article Janice!!! This is the exact point Iv'e been trying to make. The guy who wrote this article is absolutely right. Hollywood is filled with a bunch of damn hypocrits!!!

[Central Perk]

They were nowhere to be found when “Da Vinci Code” actor Ian McKellen publicly accused the Catholic Church of “perhaps misleading us all this time,” and stated “the Bible should have a disclaimer in the front saying this is fiction.” And what of the movie itself, a bigoted anti-Catholic screed if ever there was one? Any denouncements from them?

I honestly don't see anything wrong with his statements. The Catholic Church has found itself involved in a huge scandal with the revelation of widespread molestation of children. And the fact that priests would be moved around and those in power would attempt to cover up crimes comitted. He is also stating his opinions that he doesn't believe in the bible he is not lashing out at an ethnic group like Mel did. Oh yeah, that film is so bigoted and anti-Catholic, when it's FICTION.[/quote]

Where were they when Comedy Central’s Dennis Leary aired his “Merry F*ing Christmas” special, publicly called the Christmas story “bull[bleep]” and said of the baby Jesus and the Virgin Mary, “I also believe that about nine months before he was born, somebody sure as [bleep] banged the hell out of his mom”? Any religious bigotry there, folks?

Those comments are kind of crude, but that is Denis Leary's sense of humor. I can see how people would be offended, but again he's not directing criticism toward a specific group of people like Mel did.


Have any of these people ever said a word about the South Park DVD featuring an episode called “Red Hot Catholic Love,” in which almost every Catholic priest and cardinal in the world favors having sex with altar boys because supposedly it’s been enshrined in Vatican law? What about the South Park episode aired on television depicting a statue of the Virgin Mary with blood coming out her rectum?
South Park is a satire and takes aim at everyone. It is an equal opportunity offender.

There was that contestant “Tammy” who thought she was very funny on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” when she joked that “It’s a good time to be Catholic ‘cause we’re grading on the curve. As long as you’re not touching pee-pees you got a get-out-of-hell-free card.” Did Gibson’s critics condemn her – or did they laugh? How about Penn and Teller’s skit on their HBO show about Mother Teresa, one of the world’s holiest women and presently on the fast-track toward sainthood? The title -- “Mother F—ing Teresa” – tells you all you need to know.
She's a comedian and she's making a joke, it shouldn't be taken too seriously. And don't Penn and Teller have a show called Bull****!, it doesn't seem too far off for them, and again I think it's meant to be comedy.


Arianna, where were you when one wag said of Pope John Paul the Great’s teachings on sexuality that “in his perversion pecking order, you had to be dead-set against ‘self-love’ but when it came to buggering little kids, there was some wiggle room”? Oh wait a minute. Those were your words, weren’t they?
Well, to an extent isn't that true. Weren't the higher ups in the Catholic Church being hypocrites by having such strict doctrines yet allowing offenders to slide? I personally believe that Pope John Paul didn't have knowledge of the scandal going on and it was doing of others in the church.

How about the TV show “Committed” that featured a scene in which the main characters accidentally flush what they believe to be the Sacred Host down a toilet? Or “Judging Amy” with its storyline about a transvestite priest? What about the show “Rescue Me” with its plots about pedophilic priests and the character who has visions of Christ and Mary Magdalene, including one in which “Tommy” is having sex with Mary Magdalene, Jesus catches them and in a jealous rage tries to blow Tommy away with a shotgun?
Again, its fiction, not direct opinions or quotes. These are characters engaged in these actions and there is no lashing out at a specific group of people, just satirizing the religion itself.

The thing that's different about Gibson's comments are the harsh tone in which they were stated. How he said Jews were responsible for the wars in the world. He was lashing out a specific group of people, while these comments above weren't lashing out a group so much as the institution of religion itself. With that being said, I wish him the best of luck in recovery and I think his career will improve. I think some people are maybe being too harsh on him and jumping on the bandwagon. I'm sure perhaps by living with his father that has maybe influenced him to make those comments, however, I don't really know how Gibson truly feels, yet those comments did come from somewhere within. Anyway, there are more important news stories and TV and print should focus on more important things.

[Brad Russ]

HOLLYWOOD - Jodie Foster has come to the defense of her troubled Maverick co-star and friend Mel Gibson in the pages of the Los Angeles Times.
The Silence of the Lambs star agreed to take part in a campaign to boost the actor's tarnished image following drunken, anti-Semitic remarks Gibson made during a traffic arrest last week.

The Mad Max star blasted Jews in front of a Jewish highway patrolman, who had arrested Gibson for driving drunk in Malibu, California.

Gibson has since apologized for his remarks and called for Jewish community groups, who are furious with him, to help him save his good name.

And now, amid all the criticism, levelheaded Foster has offered the troubled star, who checked in to rehab earlier this week, her support.

She tells the Los Angeles Times that she doubts claims that Gibson is prejudiced against Jews.

She says, "Is he an anti-Semite? Absolutely not, but it's no secret that he has always fought a terrible battle with alcoholism."

Insisting that her Maverick co-star will recover from the scandal, Foster adds, "(He was) a shining example of how low you can go when you are young and still pull yourself up.

"He took his recovery very seriously, which is why I know he is strong enough to get through this now."

[ABlairican Pie]

Satire towards Catholics and other Christian groups is one thing, while Mel Gibson's comments are another. The point why people are upset with his statements is that these slurs would potentially add fire to the cause of many white supremacist and anti-Semitic groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, Ayran Nations, and Christian Identity. Remember that the Jewish people have had a long history of being attacked and persecuted, such as during the Holocaust in World War II, and goes on in some form or other.

Sometimes with religion, such as Catholicism or even Islam, the rest of us in Western society feel obliged to bend over backwards to accommodate to arcane and antiquated rules and customs, especially in regards to sex and women's roles, things which don't fly in contemporary society, things which are steeped in "tradition" more than anything, that adherents of the faith are unable to question.

[Janice]

Jackie Mason defends Mel Gibson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gct84oE5DEE

[Brad Russ]

Satire towards Catholics and other Christian groups is one thing, while Mel Gibson's comments are another. The point why people are upset with his statements is that these slurs would potentially add fire to the cause of many white supremacist and anti-Semitic groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, Ayran Nations, and Christian Identity. Remember that the Jewish people have had a long history of being attacked and persecuted, such as during the Holocaust in World War II, and goes on in some form or other.

Sometimes with religion, such as Catholicism or even Islam, the rest of us in Western society feel obliged to bend over backwards to accommodate to arcane and antiquated rules and customs, especially in regards to sex and women's roles, things which don't fly in contemporary society, things which are steeped in "tradition" more than anything, that adherents of the faith are unable to question.

I agree with you that satire and what Mel Gibson said are two different things. The problem is, celebrities speak things in hatred and anger towards Christianity all the time, and they always seem to get a pass on it. When I talk about celebrities bashing Christians, I'm not talking about the ones who do it satirically, I'm talking about the ones who do it sober, and with vengeance, and there have been many many examples of this throughout the years. The fact still remains that there is a double standard, and it's wrong, and is the very definition of hypocrasy. If people are going to call Mel a bigot, and an anti-semite, then Christian's have every right in the world to call celebrities who do the same things towards Christians bigots, and anti Christ's, because that's exactly what they are.

And another thing, many celebrities use satire as an excuse to cover up their hatred. I sometimes make jokes about groups of people that I know I shouldn't, and I try to use the fact that I'm joking to excuse this behavior. But me trying to cover up my words by making jokes doesn't excuse it, or make up for the fact that it's wrong.

[Zebra 3]

(WENN) Starsky & Hutch legend David Soul has leaped to the defence of troubled actor/director Mel Gibson, following his drunken anti-Semitic abuse of a police officer last month (28JUL06).
Soul is the latest celebrity pal to defend The Passion of the Christ movie-maker, who was arrested for drink driving in Malibu, California on 28 July (06). He has since checked into rehabilitation to seek help following his "horrific relapse".
Soul, 62, says, "I don't think he's anti-Semitic. He was drunk and he said something in the heat of the moment.
"I'm far more interested in what's going on in the Middle East."

[Ireneparalegal]

Let's not forget the sexist remark Mel made to the female police officer: Sugar T*ts...I hear no uproar from the feminists...

Anyhow, I don't give a rat's ass what came out of his mouth because THE MAN WAS DRUNK! I want to see the real issue talked abt...THE FACT THAT HE COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE WHILE DRIVING DRUNK.

I don't take what he said seriously because I have never known a "drunk" to ever say anything that was worth listening to. How many times have you come across a drunk who said a bunch of malarkey? How many times have you come across a drunk at a wedding and spewed out nonsense? How many times have we seen drunks on "Cops" thinking they are some ultimate power and claim they will "sue the department" that arrested them? How many of you ladies have had to fend off some drunk bastard who thought he was some "ladies man"? I could go on and on. I hate the hypocrites that are screaming for the head of Mel Gibson when the issue is that he broke the law while DRIVING DRUNK. That is more important then what came out of his mouth. The man admitted his beligerant mistake. He asked for forgiveness...I say, MOVE ON. If Hollywood can turn a blind eye to Woody Allen and Roman Polanski...then they can do the same to Mel Gibson. Probably because Hollywood is "supposedly" run by "Jews"...they "own Hollywood"...etc. etc. etc. This is abt MONEY, and nothing else.

[Brad Russ]

I don't take what he said seriously because I have never known a "drunk" to ever say anything that was worth listening to. How many times have you come across a drunk who said a bunch of malarkey? How many times have you come across a drunk at a wedding and spewed out nonsense? How many times have we seen drunks on "Cops" thinking they are some ultimate power and claim they will "sue the department" that arrested them? How many of you ladies have had to fend off some drunk bastard who thought he was some "ladies man"? I could go on and on. I hate the hypocrites that are screaming for the head of Mel Gibson when the issue is that he broke the law while DRIVING DRUNK. That is more important then what came out of his mouth. The man admitted his beligerant mistake. He asked for forgiveness...I say, MOVE ON. If Hollywood can turn a blind eye to Woody Allen and Roman Polanski...then they can do the same to Mel Gibson. Probably because Hollywood is "supposedly" run by "Jews"...they "own Hollywood"...etc. etc. etc. This is abt MONEY, and nothing else.

Exactly!! If everyone who ever had too much to drink and said something absolutely retarded were condemed for it, like Mel Gibson is being condemned for it, then most everyone would be living the rest of their lives in condemnation. Saying someone's career is riding on what they said while drunk, makes absolutely no sense. I think people saying that **** need to take a long long look at themselves in the mirror. It's like you said Irene, people should be outraged about more serious things, like him putting lives in danger, not what he said while being higher then a kite. People's priorities are total ****ed up, it's ridiculous!! Was what he said wrong?? Absolutely!!! But we should be spending more time on the more serious issues in this matter. Aside from Irene, I can't recall a single person mentioning the fact that he put thousands of lives in jeopardy, and that makes no sense whatsoever.

[Brad Russ]

With all the negativity, and bad press that Mel has been getting, I think it's good that there are people posting up articles of actors and actresses who are actually standing behind Mel Gibson. Here's another Hollywood actor who's defending Mel.


HOLLYWOOD - Actors on the set of Mel Gibson's new movie Apocalypto are rushing to the actor/director's defense as he faces a barrage of criticism following anti-Semitic remarks during a police arrest.
The Mad Max star openly voiced his 'apparent' hatred of Jews as he was being questioned by California police officer James Mee after he was caught speeding through Malibu, California, while drunk.

Gibson's comments sent shockwaves through Hollywood, and the Mexican actors who joined the director on the set of his new Mayan film epic are just as stunned.

Mexico City-based actor Mauricio Amuy became one of Gibson's closest confidantes on the film set--and he insists the image he has of the Hollywood star is nothing like the boozy anti-Semitic character the world's media is currently writing about.

Appearing on news show Extra last night, Amuy said, "I never heard Mel say on the production... 'I hate Jewish (people).’

"I never saw Mel drunk--maybe he had two or three drinks."

The actor admits he bonded with Catholic Gibson because, like him, the movie star is "a fanatic of religion."

[Ireneparalegal]

I am glad for those who are standing up for him...those actresses/actors and others in the spotlight, etc.

I don't see anyone up in arms abt those actors, Charlie Sheen, for example, who make a mockery of marriage, going to prostitutes, being addicted to drugs and having a gambling "problem"...Hollywood is always turning a blind eye to those kinds of things and those actors/actresses who do those kinds of things I just mentioned.

I don't see Hollywood up in arms abt Lindsay Lohan and other actresses/actors HER AGE, who go to clubs and drink ALL NIGHT LONG, while being under the legal age of drinking...WHERE IS THE HOOPLA OVER THAT????? They are drinking and God knows, they are driving.

[Janice]

This is abt MONEY, and nothing else.
I think there's a few issues at play here. Major jealousy of Gibson, for starters. He hit it out of the ballpark with The Passion. Hollywood, for the most part, snubbed The Passion. It got only one, maybe two, minor Academy Award nominations. Christianity rubs a lot of people the wrong way.

Lots of people just piled on. People are defending him now though. I think Gibson will ride out this storm. He needs to conquer his drinking problem.