What Now for Mel "the Jew Hater" Gibson? Is he now a Pariah?

[Philosoraptor]

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=2254853

LOS ANGELES Jul 30, 2006 (AP)— A stunned Hollywood debated the future of one of its biggest stars Sunday as a sheriff's watchdog launched an investigation into a possible cover up of a leaked report that quoted Mel Gibson unleashing a tirade of anti-Semitic remarks during a drunken driving arrest.

One media expert said Gibson irreparably damaged his career with his "crazy" behavior following his arrest by Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies in Malibu early Friday. Charges of anti-Semitism were also leveled against the actor-director with the release of his 2004 blockbuster "The Passion of the Christ."

"It's a nuclear disaster for him," said publicist Michael Levine, who has represented Michael Jackson and Charlton Heston, among others. "I don't see how he can restore himself."

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Will his Jew hating harm his stellar career?

[zonkers]

1. Hater.

[Demeter]

2. He's Always Been a Pariah in My Book

His manic acting without any sense of ridiculousness, like Robin Williams or Will Ferrell, or other comic talent, is a sign of serious mental and moral danger.

[shadowknows69]

3. I can hear Hollywood hack writers

banging out the plot to Lethal Weapon 5: "I'm too drunk for this shit"

[soothsayer]

4. Nah, I don't think so. The apology was such a good move, except

that it confirmed all the rumors after that good coverup was underway, lol! I think it will blow over. He can keep making films in pig latin or whatever he's doing.

[Philosoraptor]

5. He apologized to everyone BUT the Jews.

He apologized to the cops, and the city of Malibu, but didn't even mention all the Jew hatred he spewed.

If I were at a swank Hollywood affair I would avoid him, especially if he was getting a snootfull.

[soothsayer]

10. Hey, good point! Well then BOO on him. Mebbe it will hurt him!

[Phx_Dem]

31. I noticed that too

he never directly addressed the comments he made. Assuming he was sober when he wrote it, I think he said all he is going to say.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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[no_hypocrisy]

7. No, he went too far. Go watch "A Face In The Crowd" with Andy Griifth

and Patricia Neal. At the climax, Lonesome Roads on live broadcast contemptuously calls his fans idiots who will do anything and think anything he tells them (without knowing that the sound is "on" from the control booth). He is abandoned by his fans, his sponsors, his benefactors.

Here, Gibson said these things in private, and I'm sure there will be fans and supporters who will debate whether he really said them. Fair 'nough.

But for those who do believe that Gibson freely stated his true sentiments about Jews (and not the booze talking), they cannot line up behind him anytime soon. Hollywood (and New York behind Hollywood) have not had problems making pariahs out of its stars for less than stellar private behavior (e.g., Ingrid Bergman leaving her husband and daughter to run off with a married Italian producer and having his children out of wedlock or Charlie Chaplin's run-in with much younger women, marrying teenager Oona O'Neill, and his politics criticizing the U.S.). It's just bad press for whatever future movie HQ is going to promote b/c the suits know that inevitably questions at presstime will not be about their new project, but about Mel still being a (real or perceived) rabid antisemite. It's money, not sentiment.

[Divernan]

13. "not the booze talking"? Booze speaks to truth-in vino veritas.

Alcohol just removes the inhibitions/self-preservation instincts which keep sober people from revealing those beliefs/feelings which the they know will be morally/socially unacceptable. Anyone who excuses the offensive words of a drunk with the excuse - "he just had a few too many drinks", is filling the classic role of an enabler. Clearly Gibson is anti-semite; and the "sugar-tits" comment to the female cop tells you his basic contempt for women. Drunks need confrontation from anyone who claims to care about them - not confirmation.

My point is that his comments while drunk in fact represent his true sentiments about Jews and women.

[Philosoraptor]

17. yeah, forgive me, I'm an alcoholic, the old booze excuse.

That shit wears real thin after a while. "forgive me, I have a disease"

[marmar]

18. "Alcohol just removes the inhibitions"

Exactly. You want to get the truth out of someone? Get them tanked...Gibson just proved what many have suspected - he's a garden-variety asshole.

[truebrit71]

27. Alcohol - The verbal laxative....

...

[no_hypocrisy]

26. That's interesting. I have interpreted that expression to be

the opposite, that the booze gave you a fictional persona in a way because of the lack of inhibition. And I believe "it depends" on the person who is talking while drunk.

In this case, I DO think that Mel was doing free association when the tickets were being written and the inebriation allowed for him to express himself truthfully.

[Guaranteed]

29. Beliefs are pliable, and alcohol further distorts perception.

What and the way in which we think changes on a daily basis, for every individual. More than that, alcohol not only affects one's judgment (and thus one's beliefs), but also- merely- amplifies a person's beliefs at that time, by removing those inhibitions you speak of. When it comes to belief, those inhibitions matter. Alcohol exaggerates.

However, as far as Mel is concerned, I get the feeling that this isn't the first time he has said these kinds of things. We've heard this theory before, and that, circumstantially, gives more credence to the idea that he is an honest-to-goodness Jew-hater.

[MannyGoldstein]

8. Nah - He'll Be Fine

He has a lot of cash, and can generate a lot of cash. There will be no fallout.

Look, The Passion of the Christ was pretty obviously anti-semetic - he chose to "bring to life" the vision of an anti-semetic German nun, which showed Jews in a worse light, and Romans in a better light, than did the Gospels. And so forth. Were there any repercussions? Nah.

[Tesha]

12. As long as he keeps making movies where "Shit blows up real good"...

As long as he keeps making movies where "Shit blows up real good",
your average 'Murcan couldn't give a damn about his politics.

Tesha

[itzamirakul]

22. Newscasters are saying that "The Passion..." showed disrespect

for Jews in the story and that the movie made it appear that Jews were responsible for Jesus's death.

I don't know,,,I didn't go to see the movie and don't want to see it now. I have no desire to watch an imagined portrayal of someone's agonizing death. My own father fell into thousands of gallons of acid at his work place and though I did not see it with my physical eyes, I see it in my mind. That is enough agony for me.

Yet, I understand that the movie drew huge crowds of viewers and that audience members were wowed with the film. I guess that shows that there are plenty of people out there who agree with Gibson's take on the Bible story of the Crucifixion.

[Lerkfish]

24. FWIW, I saw the Passion and I didn't find the portrayal

of the pharisees inconsistent with the new testament source.
Now, whether that means the new testament account is disrespectful of the jewish leadership, I don't know about that. The early church leadership was all jewish until Paul. I think what people overlook is that the particular jewish leaders at that time did things which, in their minds, stopped a threat to what little power they had.
I didn't view that as antisemitic in the film. I did, however, find that the film was way too fascinated with Christ's suffering, and hardly any time spent on his teachings. So, from that angle, I felt it was disrespectful to christians as well, although the evangelicals would disagree with me.

[theHandpuppet]

9. Where was the outrage when Gibson was bleating his homophobia?

Gibson is a sexist, homophobic, racist pig. His anti-semitic tirade is just the latest display among many over the years. Maybe those who were so quick to defend Gibson over his homophobia will now see what kind of bigot this man really is.

[Tesha]

11. Lots of Murcans will think better of him for being an anti-semite.

> Maybe those who were so quick to defend Gibson over his
> homophobia will now see what kind of bigot this man really is.

You're right; some *WILL* see what kind of a bigot he is. Un-
fortunately, lots of 'Murcans will probably think *BETTER* of
him for being an anti-semite.

They'd probably like it even better if he'd stop hanging around
with that liberal Glover n***** in the "Lethal Weapon" movies. :-(

Tesha

[theHandpuppet]

14. Same folks who probably applaud his homophobia

He's a poster boy for fundie RW bigots everywhere.

[warrior1]

16. Amen theHandpuppet

[Zynx]

30. I'd say as many as a third of Americans are anti-semites.

Granted I grew up in a very right-wing area, but I still encountered so much of it that I believe it is very pervasive.

[idgiehkt]

25. does anyone have links to what Gibson has said about gays?

Because I've heard this over and over but I don't know what the specific instances are.

What was that horribly homophobic film he did where he was painted blue...that one got under my skin.

[theHandpuppet]

28. Here's one example

http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?ItemID=14640

[Tesha]

32. The film where he was painted blue was "Braveheart". (NT)

[datasuspect]

15. jew hating in hollywood?

think about the implications of that. for just 30 seconds.

that dude is toast.

[Cobalt Violet]

21. As long as he still brings lots of $$$$$ to the box office...

....thirty seconds over.

[KharmaTrain]

19. Calling Michael Medved...LOL

That's the wingnut radio host/arbeiter of "Hollywood taste" who was such a Mel defender during the flap over his Christ movie. Medved tried to tell us how Mel really was a swell but misunderstood guy and wasn't in the least an anti-semite. About is nutty father? Well ya can't blame the son can ya? Plus Mel promised to pre-screen the movie for Jewish groups and get their input. That was until the ADL came out saying they found the movie offensive. Then both Mel and Medved shut up...Medved moved on to attacking the Dixie Chicks and low-lifes like Cher and any other rational, liberal Hollywood type that speaks out. Now let's see what he has to say about Mel's mouth.

[Swamp Rat]

20. Anti-Semite Jesus Murderer

[Ganja Ninja]

23. Look for Mel to get a new talk show on FOX soon.

He's done in Hollywood.

[Bake]

33. There are a lot of assholes in Hollywood

Many of them continue to get work. Tom Cruise comes to mind. Bruce Willis. Just off the top of my head. I'm sure there are more.

I don't think this will kill Gibson's career.

Bake