dunefield

You can make comments about asians, black people, hispanics, white people but just don't bag jews...

Mel's 'nuclear disaster' stuns Hollywood


July 31, 2006 - 10:37AM

A stunned Hollywood debated the future of one of its biggest stars 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 drink driving arrest.

One media expert said today that Gibson irreparably damaged his career with his "crazy" behaviour following his arrest by Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies in Malibu early Friday.

Charges of anti-Semitism were also levelled 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."

The entertainment Web site TMZ posted what it said were four pages from the original arrest report, which quoted Gibson as launching an expletive-laden "barrage of anti-Semitic remarks" after he was stopped on Pacific Coast Highway.

According to the report, in addition to threatening the arresting deputy and trying to escape, Gibson said: "The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world". He then reportedly asked the officer, James Mee: "Are you a Jew?"

The report has not been made public, but the Los Angeles Times reported today that it had independently verified its authenticity.

Gibson's publicist, Alan Nierob, would not elaborate beyond a nonspecific apology Gibson issued Saturday. Sheriff's sources also declined to comment on Gibson's alleged remarks.

Studio executives, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter, were divided on how Gibson's behaviour would affect his career. One noted that people have short memories, including filmmakers who might want to profit from Gibson's star power.

The Office of Independent Review, a department watchdog panel, has opened an investigation into whether authorities gave Gibson preferential treatment by covering up his alleged inflammatory comments, said its chief attorney, Mike Gennaco.

"Assuming that the report was excised, then the question is was it done for a good reason within regulations," he said.

Gibson has filmed public service announcements for Sheriff Lee Baca's relief committee dressed in a sheriff's uniform.

"There is no cover-up," Baca told the Los Angeles Times.

"Our job is not to (focus) on what he said. It's to establish his blood-alcohol level when he was driving and proceed with the case. Trying someone on rumour and innuendo is no way to run an investigation, at least one with integrity."


You gotta be kidding me...

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Michaelious

It's illegal in sweden i think to print anti-semitic remarks, but you can pretty much print anything else there.

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Kimo

fuck mel gibson

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Sarah_Jayne

Hollywood has had no problem with him killing a gay character in most of movies of the past couple of years.

studiocritic

Anti-semitism isn't illegal.

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yahoo-xxx-girls.com

Perhaps in some places, but you know it would be a nice world if everyone just got along... you know instead of wars why not just invest our time in business matters or towards feeding the entire planets population?

Or just nuke everyone, which ever is easier... ;)

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Odin

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5175968.stm

This is the exact quote that got him charged:

"In France, at least, the German occupation was not particularly inhumane, although there were some blunders, inevitable in a country of 550,000 sq km," Le Pen had said.

I think the US is the only country that absolutely guarantee's free speech. I know on an adult webmaster board the point of view of this is skewed because Europe has liberal porn laws and the US doesn't, however in pure political speech terms the US is much more free and liberal in what is allowed in Europe.

Why

i guess certain people cry louder then others. when they are getting trashed on.

Corona

Where in that do you find that saying jew comments is illegal?

He got arrested for drunk drivng.

jayeff

Try telling that to anyone who was on the receiving end of the McCarthy witch-hunts, or more recently whistleblowers who have had laws especially written to silence them, protestors who are now coraled, etc.

The point being that you can find examples in every country to show that freedom of speech is limited everywhere at different times and according to whatever topic is currently sensitive. You don't score points by showing how other countries fail: rather you delude yourself into thinking that your own country does not.

DEA - banned for life

mel only had 2 good movies in my book...Mad Max Braveheart...dont know why anyone gives a shit about him...also it doenst seem like he gets much pussy for his start status

Rolo

You forgot Lethal Weapon

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Surfmastering : a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery

Odin

I am not American, and in fact I am not even pro-US with regards to most of their policies in the world. I do however have a deep respect for their constitution and those brave men who fought for the principals in it. I don't think the US is perfect, in fact I don't believe they have had a real leader of any true character in decades, but what the US Constitution does guarantee is much more than European nations and other Western nations (such as Australia - where I live) are willing to grant their citizens. Don't misinterpret my post as some anti-European neo-conservative bullshit, take it for what it is, a mark of respect for their visionary forefathers. I think many Western nations can learn from their example. You are right all nations are victim to those who wish to curtail such freedom from time to time, but thus far I think the US Constitution has held much stronger than any other Western nation has with regards to protecting free speech.