4:20 PM UPDATE: I’ve just learned that WME Entertainment actually fired Mel Gibson the day before his longtime Hollywood agent Ed Limato’s death last weekend. I’m told 
what happened is that the news media reported last week there was a tape of Mel Gibson making a racial slur. And last Friday, WME board member Ari Emanuel “woke up at 3 AM and emailed his partner Patrick Whitesell that ‘we can’t represent a guy who said the N-word’.” So the agency dumped Mel Gibson on July 2nd, and the next day, on July 3rd, his agent Limato died. Today the 2-minute recording was released by the celebrity website RadarOnline.com which initially broke the news that on it Mel Gibson allegedly uses a racial epithet during a fight with Oksana Grigorieva, the mother of his child: “You’re an embarrassment to me. You look like a f***ing bitch in heat, and if you get raped by a pack of n***ers, it will be your fault.” Just now, the Drudge Report headlined both stories, “Mel In Hell”.
3 PM: “There is no way, with Ed Limato not here, that Mel Gibson would be a client of this company, ” an insider just told me. “I don’t think anybody’s surprised by this, given Ari’s history.” Of course that’s a reference to Ari Emanuel’s July 2006 appeal to Hollywood not to work with Gibson after the actor’s drunken anti-Semitic rant during an arrest by an officer with the Malibu Sheriff’s Station. (“At a time of escalating tensions in the world, the entertainment industry cannot idly stand by and allow Mel Gibson to get away with such tragically inflammatory statements,” Emanuel posted on The Huffington Post. “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, even if it means a sacrifice to their bottom line.”)
Then, irony of ironies, Ari inherited Mel as a client when Endeavor agency merged in April 2009 with the William Morris Agency where Ed Limato was a senior agent. Limato had represented Gibson since the start of the actor’s Hollywood career. But I’ve learned that it wasn’t Limato’s death that caused WME to dump Gibson. In fact, the agency had “not officially represented” the actor prior to Limato’s death but both camps agreed to keep it secret. Gibson recently has been facing a new round of horrible publicity caused by allegations that tape recordings were made of him uttering a racial slur and threatening violence against his former girlfriend. The tapes were turned over to a Los Angeles judge in the pair’s messy custody battle over their daughter.
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The question since this latest scandal is whether Gibson’s Hollywood career will be affected. Now those questions will multiply tenfold because WME has dropped him. Still, Gibson, the director of the worldwide biggest independent film ever The Passion Of The Christ, has a very active motion picture career at present. He stars in a movie called The Beaver directed by Jodie Foster which is supposed by distributed by Summit Entertainment. And he’s filming a movie titled, How I Spent My Summer Vacation, about a career criminal brutally imprisoned in Mexico and the 9-year-old boy who helps keep him alive. Gibson also has been talking about directing a Viking epic project as well as reteaming with Lethal Weapon scribe Shane Black in Cold Warrior. And, of course, Gibson also is a movie mogul as the co-owner of Icon Productions.
As for WME, I know that Ed Limato in his last days asked his clients like Denzel Washington, Richard Gere, and Steve Martin, to remain with the agency and be represented by board member Patrick Whitesell.
As for Gibson, when he met Limato, then a William Morris agent, the Australian film industry was just beginning to make an impact on Hollywood. An Australian agent sent over a photo and a resume of a client he thought Limato might want. As Limato slipped the photograph from the envelope, it took his breath away. But could Mel Gibson act? Limato would soon find out. Gibson had just made Mad Max, a low-budget Australian movie directed by George Miller which had fared well in Europe. The agent expected to be disappointed. Instead, he was awestruck. From the very first frame of film, Gibson showed range. As it turned out, Gibson had already visited several agencies, including CAA. “CAA asked him to ‘read,’ Limato recalled to me. “I really want you to be my client,” Limato said to him. As Gibson’s star rose, so, too, did Limato’s. Now Limato’s WME agency ends its relationship with Gibson.
Because his earning potential is now limited. Now if he revives his career, we’ll act as if this never happened, because money is money after all. Look at the bullshit we did for Lebron.
So hypocritical…Ari is a racist as well….remember what he said about black people swimming?
Your comment shows good, critical thinking.
I think Mel Gibson is a has been. He is completely out of control professionally and in his personal life. I can’t believe a Catholic would show this kind of behavior.
It just goes to show you that there are all types of Catholics, good and bad. Gibson is definitely a bad example.
I heard the rant and Mel seemed to have very serious concerns. And he was referring to a specific type with that comment.(think Oakland riots)
Frankly, if Mel wants to make a movie he’ll have to back it himself, and it will probably be successful if the product is good. Most Americans don’t and won’t care bout this BS.
We’re too PC, and again just like that bounty hunter guy he used the so-called N word in a private conversation, that was secretly recorded. Anyway Mel’s Russian baby mama is probably working under the ‘illegals’ programs.
I completely agree. All the best to Mel and I look forward to attending his next movie. He’s one of my favorites.
That’s what’s so funny. The same Ari who famously refused to let one of his agents forward a Navy SEALS script to Wesley Snipes because “That is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Everyone knows that blacks don’t swim”. He of course then got sued by said agent and settled for a couple million of dollars. Of course Nikki won’t dare mention this.
Somehow you remembered some cheesy line from GI Jane, attributed it to Ari Em. and then assumed that KNOW ONE would have seen GI Jane or remembered where the quote came from. Do you know how brutally stupid you’d have to be to think that you can quote from GI Jane and not get called on it? It’s almost adorable how silly you are.
you’d have to be pretty dumb.
you’d also have to be pretty dumb to spell the only word you emphasize in a paragraph incorrectly.
How much you want to bet Ari (and his brother) have nothing but nice things to say about recently deceased Sen. Byrd despite his racist past and his use (OMG!) of the “N” word repeatedly.
Selective outrage. Typical.
Sen. Byrd was a despicable man in his youth, but he realized that what he believed and did was wrong, and went on to repudiate everything for which he once stood. He didn’t just make hollow apologies – he use his position in the government to fight racism and bigotry (among other things.) Were Mel to make a similar sincere change in his attitude and his actions, then his past could be forgiven, as was Byrd’s. It’s something he’ll have to earn, though, and that’s going to take some time.
@SteveC:
Even better, I’m sure you have nothing but nice things to say about avowed racist/segregationist Republican Strom Thurmond, who raped his family’s 15 year old black maid, refused to support the child he had w/ her until forced to by threat of exposure, allowed the mother to die @ 38 of cancer by refusing to assist in her care & never acknowledged the child’s existence as long as he lived.
Where’s your outrage about that? Hmmm?
@ least Sen. Byrd apologized & disavowed his racist past.
Something I’m positive you & Gibson will never do.
The only reason this is even “news” is because Mel has not done a good movie that made a lot of money lately. Hollywood is money, and Mel don’t bring ’em anymore like he used to, and now he is bring “fired”. These people are all scums and hypocrites, Ari included.
Acting like that may make Ari no better than Mel (arguable), but it’s certainly not hypocritical. Ari is not trying to pitch himself for the type of work that he would pitch Mel for. It’s apples and oranges and you simple can’t relate one to the other. A movie star can’t afford to be a publicly outed racist woman beating lunatic and still expect to work at the level he used to, but the public doesn’t care about agents whatsoever.
Not hypocritical at all. Mel is a racist through and through. He’s a very angry man, regardless of his billions.
Like Mel was staying at WMA? Gimme a break, Ari beat him to the punch. Ed Limato was AWESOME and if his clients all jumped from WMA it would look bad, so why not humiliate what would have been the first one out the door? Delete that one, why don’t you?
Oh, it is indeed hypocritical. But this doesn’t change the fact that Mel is a racist antisemite. However, if Hollywood was truly concerned about such bigotry, then they would have casted away Ari as well. Further, they wouldn’t continue to brazenly support the party that kept a klansman like Robert Byrd, who filibustered against the civil rights movement in the senate for decades. As expected, they will continue to put their weight and misguided opinions behind the party that fought to KEEP slavery and against civil rights. They will persist in supporting identity politics by backing the party who simultaneously supported the klan in the south and the Black Panthers to the north. It is the same party who constantly funnels our tax dollars to Planned Parenthood, an organization started by a eugenicist bigot named Margaret Sanger that makes a ton off abortions (primarily abortions of minorities, which was her mission).
Anyone surprised by all this racism from the very people who are obsessed with identity politics needs to wake up.
His private phone calls are no one’s business.
We also don’t know how much she cranked him up before she hit the record button. It is easy to smear someone by surreptitiously (illegally) recording them.
Step 1 – rip them a new one.
Step 2 – press record button.
Step 3 – act reasonable and innocent while they lose it.
Step 4 – use recording to smear and extort
Better yet maybe mel should be a racist in Venezuela or Cuba that supports terrorist members of F.A.R.C. then you would get back in the good graces with a few of Hollywoods elitists, Sean Penn might defend you, just say fascism 20 times in relation to U.S. and you’re a shoe in.
now THAT’S clever/funny insight. the covertly racist Danny66 upset me but this brought me back to enjoying the dialogue. Danny, if your wife or girlfriend dressed provocatively you seem to have genuine concerns for her safety because of those “packs of n—–s” roaming the streets. You’re a racist schmuck. Mel Gibson isnt the Bounty Hunter on A&E. He got away with the anti semitism because there are barely any of us Jews left to affect the box office of this nut job and everyone else basically hates jews anyway. There’s nothing that’s sliding past anyone’s radar here. Not his n—-r hating or his abhorrent language toward the mother of his children.
when you say almost everyone hates Jews then you are probably worse than Mel. when you are of this mentality you are not informed and are probably a racist so who do you think would put any stock into your opinion.
Come on Mel you can live up to more racist comments, maybe you can work for Spike Lee and make a career out of you racist rants. See mel make it an “art” and you can get awards for it, and you won’t have to be in a drunken rage to get away, with it. Only one problem, you will have to somehow change your race to get away with racism!
HollyWoods indignation is comical.
We have actors who have kicked their wives around like dogs and they have not been Black Balled but Mel is for speaking unkind words?
Phonies.
Yeah, wasn’t Rihanna beaten to a pulp by her “boyfriend”? But Gibson gets raked over the coals for WORDS??
Obviously to anyone, Mel was going to leave WMA after Ed passed away. How would he be able to trust Ari after he called Mel out like he did on Huffington Post. Rather than let Mel leave the agency, as he sensibly would, perhaps Ari shrewdly beat him to the punch and dumped him preemptively on “moral grounds.” That way Mel could leave without it looking like it was a foregone conclusion that Ed’s big clients were jumping ship.
So,it’s ok for a “n****r to call others “n****r” in their street talk and on air in their so-called “music” But whitey doing the same?? God forbid!
I don’t particularly like Gibson. But he is no different from your average Joe…unless you are a liberal.
“Regular Joe”?! What kind of people are YOU hanging out with that they make comments like that regularly? And, by the way, the word to which you refer to is used as slang in a different context. Gibson clearly meant to be malicious referring to the most derogatory of meanings. I guess conservatives don’t really know much about history or the evolution of the English language.
What an ass. Why do we think actors are super human?
No, the real question is why do you think it’s YOUR BUSINESS what a celebrity couple say to each other in a fit of anger in a PRIVATE conversation?
LeBron won an MVP. Your comparison is garbage, no offense intended.
I suppose the verbal abuse he was giving this woman is ok but he crossed the line when he said the “N” word….
Mel Gibson doesn’t need WME or any other agency.
He who is without sin, may cast the first stone…
We all have things we’re ashamed of and regret. Let’s just hope Mel regrets his actions and betters himself. I’m sure he’s capable.
Does anyone really think that Mel Gibson even needs the services of this or any other agency? He’s the caliber of actor that does not need to audition for roles. Studios knock on his door, not the other way around. Just the simple fact of having Gibson lead movies means big bucks in the box office. Gibson could easily hire away some of the best agency talent and form his own agency to represent him directly, if he wanted or needed to.
All of this will blow over and before you know it Gibson will be right back to making mega blockbusters again.
People are in such an uproar over this and seem to forget this is a PRIVATE CONVERSATION taped by his girlfriend. Everyone has two sides, the public and the private. What is said behind closed doors in a fit of anger is not the same as if someone says it live on air during an interview. People get pissed and say things they don’t mean or even have time to think about. Yeah, Mel seems to have some anger issues, but maybe his girlfriend REALLY had him pissed off. A lot of people in glass houses throwing a lot of stones. Between Deadline and Drudge it seems like certain people have an agenda against Mel or are desperate for eyeballs on the page. THIS WAS A PRIVATE CONVERSATION BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE! Get over it already!
U mean a Jew-hating, gay-bashing, racist has no place at WME now that Ed’s gone?
queue the Roman Polanski advocates…3…2…1…
Now THAT was funny!!!!!!!!! Kudos emdubb!
And prophetic, as well, I am sure
Exactly. What Gibson SAID was way worse than what Polanski DID! Hysterical, isn’t it?
Wow yes, you’re right almost sounds like the middle east. Maybe mel should pose as a muslim racist, anti-gay, anti-jewish, then the hollywood elite, monsters of utter and complete hypocrisy would welcome him with open arms……
Better yet he can be a racist, terrorist supporting, marxist pig and get support from leaders like Hugo Chavez, then at least he could find a nice friend in hollywood like Sean Penn to defend and forgive his direct support for F.A.R.C. kidnappings and killings. Yes Mel you should go to Venezuela or Cuba, then you would be back in the good graces of Hollowood…
It is funny that they let Mel make the awful anti-jewish rants against the cop a while back without any consequence but all of a sudden get religion when he uses the N word (which is just as shameful I like to add.) Our society has a double standard.
badass!
Maybe your “b.a.” comment is the worst of all…Yes, it probably is. And as with other racial slurs, it reveals the “who” of yourself.
LOL! Best comment so far!
Expected. Definitely newsworthy but not shocking in the least. Move on, Mel.
I don’t agree. Gibson owes the world a sincere apology. In that way (perhaps) the hypocrisy of Hollywood muckrakers could be revealed. Yes. This is socially significant.
Why does Mr. Gibson need to apologize to the world? First, he didn’t make the comment for public consumption, and he obviously made it in a fit of anger. Mr. Gibson appears to have a temper and a problem with intoxicants; he also appears to have something against a certain segment of the black and Jewish populations, but my God, the man worked with Danny Glover, if you want him to apologize for something, why not that?
Where exactly is a 60 year old supposed to go from here? I am not saying the guy isn’t bankable. He can still pack the seats. But how does one redefine himself at that age after what this guy has brought down on himself given the prevalent attitudes in the movie business?
Gibson is done.
how right you are ! ! this is a load of claptrap why are the yanks so uptight a bought racism all of a sudden, don’t forget Mel was brought up in Australia, and the Ozzies don’t pull punches. they call a spade a spade
Admittedly WAAAAAAY too soon for someone like me as out of the Mel loop as I am to be commenting with precious little information at the moment, but I would at least like to start the banter off with a big “HUH?!?!” The guy’s been a cash cow and someone of his overall abilities can easily resurrect himself in a town as forgiving and forgetful as this (Despite Mel’s, well, you know)…
“There is no way, with Ed Limato not here, that Mel Gibson would be a client of this company,” VERY curious to see how that statement is defined…
File this under “Duh.” Now the question is who is brave enough to pick him up.
their loss.
Whoah. I get that he went on a drunken anti-semitic rant a number of years ago, but…seriously?! What does that have to do with his ability to earn for the agency? If an agency dumped every single actor/actress who had committed moral and/or legal transgressions, how many would actually be left?
My cynical mind tells me that this wouldn’t have happened if it were 10 years ago and Mel was at the height of his career.
Actors and actresses have committed several moral and legal infractions over the years, and rose above them at a later date. Look at what’s his name, from Iron Man and such. But let’s face it, any hint of racism, anti-semitism, or homophobia is absolutely UNFORGIVABLE (misogyny is apparently still reluctantly acceptable) in Hollywood (unless you’re an african-american homophobe, then you get one mulligan). He will have to pay penance and be exiled for a while. Two or three years from now after giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to charities that fight racism and anti-semitism, he will be back.
There is, however, a difference between being illegal drug use and hitting your girlfriend (especially while she’s holding your child, putting her at risk as well,) threatening her with a gun (assault with a deadly weapon,) and threatening to kill her.
I find it rather interesting how most of the comments I’ve seen here are focusing on his bad language. Even if you set that aside and ignore it, his actions were still unconscionable. And before anyone tries to claim it was his girlfriend’s fault and that she was trying to goad him into being angry, keep in mind that someone who isn’t abusive isn’t going to be able to be goaded into being abusive.
We are each responsible for our own actions, and if what he’s being accused of is true, Mel has to own his. So what if she wanted to piss him off? It certainly shows a lack of judgment on her part and isn’t behaviour that should be condoned by anyone, but Mel didn’t have to take the bait, and he didn’t have to hit or threaten her. He could have chosen to handle it calmly, recognized he was getting too angry and told her they’d continue the disagreement later after he’d cooled down a bit or stuck to just yelling (not that that’s a great option, but it’s less violent.) But she didn’t reach over, grab his hands and force him to punch her, or put a gun into his hand and force him to threaten her with it.
But he’s 60.
Mel is 54.
“ability to earn for the agency”….are you for real? Does nothing but money count to you?
Are you from around here? Nothing but money counts to agencies. period.
Tell me you’re kidding. Please. IT IS NOT OK TO USE THE N WORD. You are no doubt oblivious to the history of the United States of America. Using the n word is not ok. My cynical mind tells me you are very brave behind your keyboard. You should make that statement publicly, in person, and in Harlem. Stop being a douche.
Unless you are a gangster rapper? I don’t get the double standard with the word. If the word is offensive to a community, then they should not use the words themselves.
Otherwise, it is hypocrisy to condemn someone for using a word.
Hollywood is the biggest bunch of sleazeballs on earth. One time I was having my hair styled at Umberto’s in Beverly Hills and a screen writer was bitching because she though Christopher Reeves was going to get an Emmy instead of her becuase he was “paralysed”.
He’s apparently gone well beyond a drunken anti-semitic rant at this point. He has allegedly abused his girlfriend, threatened her with a gun, hit her while she was holding their child, told her if she got raped by a pack of n***** she deserved it, and threatened to bury her in his rose garden.
At this point, it’s not about how much money HE could bring in to an agency, but rather how much money the agency would lose from having him as a client. He’s *very* radioactive right now, and it’s possible – if not downright likely – that producers & directors would potentially boycott any agency carrying him by refusing to hire other clients that work for them. The agency would also run the risk of not just losing current agents (along with their clients) and other clients who don’t want to be associated with Gibson in any way, but they could even find it hard to hire new agents for the same reason.
Even if this had happened at the hight of Gibson’s career, the extreme nature of the things he’s being investigated for and/or charged with is such that I suspect he’d have been dropped then, too.
Its great to see an agency put principles above profits. Well done.
Oops! Does this agency have moral principles and its guidelines? I don’t believe, so. It appears to me, that racial opposition has surfaced.
If this was about principles, they would have refused to rep him long ago. This is about publicity.
If they canned all the directors, producers, actresses, actors, musicians, athletes, etc. who used illegal drugs, committed adultery, lied on their taxes, used ethnic, religious or racial slurs, puffed their expense accounts, drove drunk. etc. you could possible see “principles” in the agency industry. Forget that!
Principles??? – their principles are MONEY. If he was their top earner they would be burying the story so deep you’d never hear about it.
You are the height of clueless, if you think this had ANYTHING to do with principles. And you would know better if you knew anything about Ari’s track record, both on racism as well as selective memory. Ari’s principles are based on “whatever is good for Ari”, personally and bank balance.
Of course, this is no apologetic for Mel. He is what he is. It just seems ironic that when he shows his colors he is whipped offstage, but when other corporate big screen pets mouth off epithets, people like Ari have their fingers in their ears singing LALALALALALALALALALA…
Now his PR team should dump him as well.
You are exposing your ignorance of “PR.”
Re: “Now his PR team should dump him as well.” I agree with you wholeheartedly, but how come
you’re too cowardly identify your full name. It’s spineless people like you who perpetuate Mel’s continued acceptance in the biz, don’t you see that?
Seems that you have a long way to go before you can call yourself my “fellow flack;” goodness knows that the defining aspect real ‘flacks’ share most, and I know after having been a press agent for 40 years, is guts, something that can never be bought. Try it next time, before you put your foot in your mouth in your show of self-righteous indignation.
Not surprising. Didn’t Ari Emanuel encourage everyone to boycott Mel Gibson after the “sugar tits” and “Jews are responsible for all the wars” comments in 2006?
The Passion of the Hypocrite. Jesus must be rolling over in his grave.
cheap shot “He has Risen” Satan is working over Mel for making such an authentic movie.
I agree hopefully Mel will wake up and realize it and not give in to temptation more than he already has.
Jesus rolling over in his grave? I thought he got up and left? Anyway, Mel Gibson’s biggest mistake was doing the 1992 “Forever Young” movie (cryogenically frozen WW2 pilot). Racist statements can be forgiven but that movie sucked.
“got up and left” classic! ROTFLMAO
LOL!!! Actually that was probably my favorite scene in the movie at the end when Jesus gets up and leaves! Hello!!! He was resurrected and that’s the whole idea ’cause if that didn’t happen then we’re all doomed!!! Beyond any other expression of Christianity I have ever experienced on film before, Passion of the Christ was one of my all time favorite movies ever. I’m sorry Mel acted terrible in all these ways against all these people, but if he’s willing to say he’s sorry then I’m willing to forgive. But he also needs to change his ways and let it be action and not mere words. He will also have to deal with the consequences of all this just like anybody else would. Being a woman, I am angry at his outrageous violent behavior toward his ex-girlfriend, and if I were her I’d never let him back into her life again if possible. But being a fan of his over the years, I still think he’s amazingly talented as a director and he’s an entertaining actor at times. But, if it is true that he knocked the front veneers out of his ex’s mouth and bruised up her face with some hitting, then I might have to boycott his films. I have to draw the line somewhere.
Bravo & well done!
To screwmel; It seems you did not see “A passion of the Christ”? There is a lot of truth and lessons for you about the world and how some people act. (see jbalish comment) Many Christian zelots act that way without reaqlizing how it looks to others. So, you never had a bad day and said things you would rather you didn’t? I’m not a total Mel lover, just saying…
Ed Limato has a list of clients that he’s been loyal to over the years. After the merge, client cuts were made through out the new agency but Limato refused to follow orders. Actors like Doris Roberts, Michael Biehn and Valeria Golino are certain to be cut now with Limato gone. Didn’t I see a WME ad this week talking shit about continuing Limato’s legacy? Ari, you wouldn’t know how.
finally! let’s hope THE BEAVER tanks!
Yeah, that’s right. Let’s take it out on all the *other* people involved with ‘The Beaver’ too (like Jodie Foster’s directing career) just because we don’t like Mel Gibson because he said the ‘N’ word. Clearly, they deserve it too. That makes a lot of sense…
If the reports about the contents of the tapes are accurate, Mel is only going to have the Aryan nation to rely upon to buy his stuff.
I might find some creadence in all this phony outrage if the same people weren’t using this incident to conflate their own prejudices.
Thank G-d
typical of a custody battle, that bitch must hate Mel with a passion
to be honest I don’t give a fuck if Mel uses salty language in his private life, nor do I go along with the hysterical liberals who shriek with rage when someone says the n-word…really who gives a damn, his work speaks for itself, still one of the most interesting actors and directors in the biz
Ari, on the other hand, is an egomaniac who can seriously cram it
I think it’s a shame that when your in the heat of an argument with your wife that if she tapes it you are tried and convicted in public.
I don’t give a flip what he says in his kitchen,and neither should any other American citizen because it might be his kitchen next.
The country is imploding, find something worth caring about you array of dim-wits.
BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“…to be honest I don’t give a fuck if Mel uses salty language in his private life, nor do I go along with the hysterical liberals who shriek with rage when someone says the n-word…really who gives a damn…”
I’d like to meet you in person to discuss this statement. If you would bring Mel along with you that would be peachy.
Said the racist. Salty language indeed.
You pulled the n-word out of context. The man said: “…if you get raped by a pack of f-ing n–gers, it will be your fault.” You’re seriously ok with someone talking like that to a woman?? Really? Regardless of whether he is some ‘brilliant’ celebrity or not, you are ok with that?
You are equating salty with bigotry. WRONG again.
Even if you ignore the language, if it’s true that he abused his girlfriend (including hitting her while she was holding their baby – thereby putting *his own child* in danger,) threatened her with a gun (aka assault with a deadly weapon) and threated to bury her in is rose garden, that’s more than enough reason right there for him to be made persona non grata in – well, anywhere, really.
Are you okay with Mel smacking his girlfriend in the face twice while holding their daughter? So, you are the kind of person who defines revulsion in response to hatefulness and hypocrisy as liberal hysteria. This should be everyone’s response! Why aren’t you appalled? It’s okay because Mel is “interesting”? What the hell is wrong with you?
Never thought about it, but I’m starting to see how Gibson would form his demented point of view, given his environment. No offense or anything.
You are spot on. See the posting from “Waiting for the collapse” right above yours.
There’s an interesting point. Some of the apparently insider information has come close, but that’s the first really good comment I have read.
I am very curious about the phase of being “not officially represented.” It was somewhat odd knowing that such a class act like Ed was his agent. On the one hand, Ed is the guy who stands by his clients. On the other, Mel is the type of guy who is totally capable of mass murder and I personally applaud this effort to stop working with such an awful man.
On a somewhat unrelated note, I would sort of enjoy seeing him in a role like Bruno Ganz’s in Downfall…
Mass murder… If that’s what you are going to attribute to him, I have to question what makes you think this is appropriate? Capable of mass murder… GARBAGE!
Gibson didn’t write How I Spent My Summer Vacation.
He’s really a dark and disturbed individual – but if you like his acting and his movies – which I do, does it matter. What i’ve learned in my 10 years of working in Hollywood that the publics perception of a star has zero to do with his/her real persona.
Fake marriages, sex, drugs, darkness, weirdness….
The moment Cruise fired his publicist, we caught a glimpse of the real Cruise. It just creeped a lot of people out. But we should still like his acting shouldn’t we?
Kobe got a free pass for raping a girl. Paid her off. We still like his basketball skills.
Mel is a dark, twisted man – but he’s human. They all are. Should we judge them by talent. That’s all they’ve asked. Not judged by what happens when the cameras are off.
Technology has the ability to expose these people at a rapid rate. So now we can see a little more…. should it matter? Mel’s not a role model – none of them are – they are actors. What we see is all fake anyway. It’s called acting.
Just saying…..
Awesome points Sheila and absolutely right in putting the situation in prospective. Remember, this was thought to be a “Private” conversation with an individual whom Mel is going through an ugly separation with. This was an obvious setup in order to gain ammunition, especially with child custody involved. The fact that she leaked this tape to the press, now possibly having negative effects on his future is just icing on the cake for this woman. There are moments, I guarantee, that everyone of us in a similar situation could be guilty of saying things if not the same, just as offensive that we would not want anyone to hear. And you know that’s the case with the f*cking Hippocrates at WME!!
Very smart – youre 100% correct
Probably the most cogent observation posted on this subject.
Man, people will go to such great lengths to protect/defend famous white people. He’s human. Judge by talent. Blah, blah, blah. Save your bleeding heart and excuses. He was violent to this woman, made sick and sexist comments on top of racial slurs (not just blacks, but hispanics as well…not to mention all his anti-Jew remarks). He’s not the only person living/working in Hollywood and plenty of people don’t deal with the stress by hateful outburst about basically every minority group other than white men. He’s an entitled meglomaniac. I also reserve the right to not have to spend my hard earned money on a bigot, a sexist and an anti-semite. I also love that you just assume Kobe raped that girl and paid her off. I bet if it were a white football player he’d get the benefit of the doubt speech and a you’d suspect the woman of making up the story for money.
it actually hurts you when someone speaks with compassion about Mel, doesn’t it? you’re in physical pain reading it, aren’t you? I’m glad I’m not you, it sounds like that experience really sucks, being alone with your bitterness 24×7…frankly would rather walk a mile in Mel’s shoes than in yours
where is your outrage towards polanski? woody allen? charlie sheen..who has a long history of violence, and SHOT Kelly Preston? Are you boycotting Chris Brown with your “hard earned dollars”
How are Mel’s words different from Ari’s? They’re both racists.
BTW, a BLACK football player got the benefit of the doubt for MURDER, and spousal abuse.
Mel might be a jerk, but the smear campaign that’s going on is very interesting.
@w11: pot meet kettle.
Famous people get a pass in this day & age no matter what the color of their skin is.
Michael Jordan betting while playing basketball? no problem.
Eddie Murphy picking up a transvestite hooker? no problem.
Mike Tyson beating Robin Givens? no problem.
Ice-T, Ice Cube, & other rappers using the “n” word frequently? no problem.
When someone is making money for someone else & entertaining the public, we make a pass and excuses for them.
Personally, after Tom’s couch jumping and ranting, I refused to see anything with him in it.
Have done the same thing with Mel after the crap he said.
I can’t support people like that, it’s too much like me saying it’s okay for you to spew your crazy and I don’t mind you beating women/pushing your cult/acting like a racist bastard.
This isn’t about the public’s perception. This is about Mel and his professed religion. We’re just along for the ride. According to his book, the one he professed loyalty to when making his subjective Christian film … what you do in the darkness will come to light (roughly paraphrased). Meaning, you cheat on your wife for the life of your marriage–one day you’ll impregnate another woman & your wife will divorce you … publicly. If you hold disrespectful, racist ideologies in heart, they’re gonna come spewing out, when you least expect … publicly. This is karma, simply … or rather reaping what you’ve sewn, from Mel’s point of view.
Kobe should NOT have gotten off the way he did, but just because one scumbag got away with something doesn’t mean we have to let all of them. If Mel’s guilty of the allegations of abuse that have been lodged against him, then he needs to be held to account for that.
Nice to see Ari sticking to his guns.
So Mel has a colorful vocabulary. Big deal. I’m black and I couldn’t care less what anyone think or say behind my back as long as it doesn’t cause me harm or hinder my ability to make a living. People are entitled to their thoughts and opinions. The irony is Hollywood is a discriminatory industry in itself. Just look at all the black execs, managers, and journalists. You know, people in POWER positions. Last I checked I believe Charles King was the lone male black agent at WME. It’s the people who master saying all the right things and shedding crocodile tears at the opportune moments I worry about. At least with Mel you know what you’re getting and that’s half the battle. I can deal with that.
Right on, Curtis Scoon, thanks for this post. I can see both sides of this. There is a difference between saying something stupid and actively participating in racist policies and institutions on a daily basis…whether you are aware of it or not.
You sir, are the first clear-headed individual I’ve seen on this site. As a Hispanic, I’ve always said that one can say what one wants in private as long as they don’t hinder me in any way in the real world. We all have two lives: public and private. A pity websites like RadarOnline and TMZ do their best to expose the private.
What you said about the lack of black agents at WME is very interessting.
Now this is finally a cogent thought..
Well Said!
The man said: “…if you get raped by a pack of f-ing n–gers, it will be your fault.” You’re seriously ok with someone talking like that to a woman?? Really? Regardless of whether he is some ‘brilliant’ celebrity or not, you are ok with that?
How many African Americans are given the chance to develop the relevant skills to be an agent? Your observation makes sense when one discusses ADs at big universities, managers in baseball, or football coaches. On the other hand, think of tennis. There hasn’t been another Arthur Ashe for a reason.
Mel Gibson (along with Danny Glover) ADVANCED race relations with the Lethal Weapon franchise, and many of the films in which he starred *conspicuously* featured blacks in significant roles.
No credit for this?
Curtis, Your respone is the only rational one to this story. Public discourse needs more clear-thinkers like you. Virtually every white person, and, for that matter, every black person, has used the N-word at some point. That does not make all those people racists or pariahs. Also, have you ever been through a contested custody battle? Not fun, and it often brings out the worst in you. To all those who are excoriating Mel Gibson, look in the mirror before you throw a stone.
This is a sensible post reflecting what we should all feel. People should be able to have their own opinions on how they feel about other people and things. If someone is offended then they should simply not associate with someone they do not like. I will continue to judge Mel Gibson by what he does professionally since I am not exposed to him on a personal basis.
Well said, Curtis!
I think Jeff Berg should take Mel. If he can represent Polanski, how bad is an antisemite?
Mel Gibson is a despicable jew-hating, black-hating, women-hating abusive asshole who deserves to never work again (and possibly be in jail). And finally, now, everyone knows it.
And as much as I DID want to see Beaver, and loved the script, I will not be watching anything Mel Gibson is involved with ever again. I didn’t see Edge of Darkness and I encourage everyone else -except those who enjoy working with nazis in disguise – to boycott working with this drunken idiot. He has been able to cover up his opinions for 20 years, but now that he has enough money and “fame,” he thinks people won’t care how despicable of a person he is. Let’s show him he’s wrong.
And Mel working with Shane Black again? Not a shocker. Shane’s a brilliant writer and I love his work, but as a person, we’ve all heard the stories. And if you haven’t, well, let’s just say he would give Mel a run for his money in the despicable department.
It’s time to retire, Mel. I’m sure you can buy a nice mansion in Germany somewhere and live out the rest of your days muttering hateful words to yourself.
Do you do everything youre told to do by hollywood? Turn in any diplomas you may have earned and stop calling yourself intelligent or well informed.
Your loss! if u chose to not see Mels movies. I dont believe he said the N word with hate cause he has workded with many black men and to me he didnt seem bias he seemed normal to work with the blacks, i think it was like a bit of anger towards his g/f not to the black ppl. I love Mr. Gibson and ppl will extend and make stuff up as they please just like Michael Jackson,. Like they say different strokes for different folks. I will watch and admire Mel Gibson for as long as he wishes to be in movies.
“I don’t believe he said the N word with hate…” WHAAAA? Seriously? So, there’s a way to use the N word that is without hate? That is the most preposterous thing I’ve ever heard. Anyone who knows anything about the history of this word would agree. This is not a casual word to be bandied about. Ridiculous. And, I can’t even explain how horrified I am to see people falling all over themselves to excuse Gibson for his racist and abusive tirades — I don’t give a crap if he’s doing it in his own kitchen. “Who hasn’t said things they’ve regretted before, blah, blah, blah…” Give me a break. And, frankly, if he IS saying these things in his own kitchen, he should damn well be man enough to say them in public. But, he won’t because he’s a coward. He’ll only hurl these abusive epithets at a woman when he thinks no one else is listening. I seriously though Hollywood had come a long way since the days where racism was accepted and tolerated. So very sad to see how wrong I was.
“deserves to never work again (and possibly be in jail)”
Over a racial slur?
Your foolish sanctimony is beyond nauseating, may God forbid the world be privy to your weakest moment!
Michael Jackson was a pedophile and got a free pass from the entertainment industry. He’s still loved by millions who don’t give rats backside if he was a pedophile or not. But, Mel Gibson should be banned from making a living and/or thrown in jail for using the N word. What a bunch of hypocrites.