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What they said ...
'There are times in history when standing up against bigotry and racism is more important than money' Ariel 'Ari' Emanuel, talent agent and founder of the Endeavor Agency in Beverly Hills, California
'If you condemned all art because the artist is a ratbag, there wouldn't be much left' Miranda Devine, commenting in The Sydney Morning Herald
The issue at a glance
Mel Gibson, a highly successful Hollywood actor, movie director and producer, was arrested at 2.36 am on Friday, July 28, 2006, for driving under the influence, that is, drunk driving. He was booked into the Los Angeles County prison at 4.06 am and released, after paying $5,000 bail, at 9.45 am.
A sheriff's spokesman, Steve Whitmore, said deputies clocked Gibson doing 87 mph in a 45 mph zone. A breath test indicated Gibson's blood-alcohol level was 0.12 percent. The legal limit in California is 0.08 percent.
Arraignment was set for September 28 in the Malibu Superior Court. If convicted, Gibson would have faced up to six months in jail.
On August 16, Gibson, through his lawyer, pleaded no contest to a single misdemeanour count of driving under the influence. He was sentenced to three years probation, fined $1,600 and ordered to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and enrol in what was described as a three-month-long 'alcohol-abuse program'. The program did not call for live-in treatment.
The incident became international news because Gibson is reported to have also resisted arrest and threatened and abused his arresting officers. He insulted the officers using ant-Semitic and sexist slurs. He suggested he would use his wealth to get even with them.
Though Gibson has since twice apologised for his behaviour there have been a number of calls for both audience and Hollywood filmmakers to boycott him in future film projects. Disney's ABC production company has decided not to go ahead with a proposed television project which was to have been developed with Gibson's production unit. The project was to have dealt with the Holocaust.
Gibson's behaviour has promoted debate about the significance or otherwise of actors' private lives and conduct.
Background
A number of media outlets have published detailed reports of Mel Gibson's behaviour during his arrest.
When Gibson was first stopped and told he would be arrested for driving under the influence, the actor began swearing uncontrollably. Law enforcement sources say the LA County Sheriff's deputy James Mee, had been worried that Gibson might become violent and told the actor that though he was supposed to handcuff him he would not do so, as long as Gibson cooperated.
As the two stood next to the bonnet of the patrol car, the deputy asked Gibson to get inside. Deputy Mee then walked over to the passenger door and opened it. The police report indicates that Gibson then said, 'I'm not going to get in your car,' and bolted to his car. The deputy quickly subdued Gibson, handcuffed him and put him inside the patrol car.
Once inside the car, Gibson began banging himself against the seat. The report says Gibson then repeatedly directed profanities at the officer and threatened him, stating he [Gibson] 'owns Malibu' and would spend all of his money to 'get even' with the officer.
The report also indicates that Gibson directed racial abuse at Mee asking was he Jewish and stating that 'The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world.'
The deputy became alarmed as Gibson's verbal abuse worsened, and called ahead for a sergeant to meet them when they arrived at the station. Once at the station Gibson abused the officers there, including directing sexist abuse at a female officer.
Gibson, still handcuffed, appeared to attempt to urinate in his cell, mishandled the phone he was given when he demanded to be allowed to make a phone call and refused to sign the paperwork he was given. At that point he was placed in a detox cell.
Deputy Mee wrote an eight-page report detailing Gibson's behaviour. Two versions were finally produced. One, more restrained, for public release, the other, supplying all details, was produced to be used for legal purposes.
Overview of Mel Gibson's life and career
Mel Gibson was born in New York in January, 1956. He is the sixth of 11 children and moved to Australia in 1968 after his father won an injury payout and the TV quiz Jeopardy.
After being teased for being a 'Yank', Gibson adopted an Australian accent and later studied at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA). While there, he played Romeo opposite Judy Davis' Juliet and shared accommodation with Geoffrey Rush.
Like Kylie Minogue, he started his screen career with a role in the TV serial The Sullivans before finding film fame in Mad Max in 1979. This futuristic adventure became an unexpected hit, taking $100m (œ53m) around the world and spawning two sequels.
More acclaimed roles in the war drama Gallipoli and The Year of Living Dangerously (both directed by Peter Weir) followed before his hugely successful appearance in the1987 "cop thriller" Lethal Weapon.
It was around this time that Gibson began his battle with alcohol that he has blamed for his 'vitriolic and harmful words' during his arrest.
Lethal Weapon was a world-wide hit and established Gibson on the Hollywood A-list, with its three sequels helping both his image and bank balance.
Gibson then won critical praise in Hamlet in 1990 before directing his first film, The Man Without a Face, three years later.
The next film he directed, the historical epic Braveheart, scored five Oscars in 1996, including best picture and best director. Braveheart was a commercial success, although some questioned its anti-English bias - the same charge levelled against his 2000 film, The Patriot.
Thanks to further successes like Ransom, Signs and What Women Want, Gibson's acting fee reportedly reached $25m (œ13.3m) per film.
Gibson's religious faith attracted some criticism during his co-writing, directing, producing and financing of The Passion of the Christ in 2004. His radical and violent retelling of Jesus' crucifixion, with dialogue entirely in Aramaic and Latin, took more than $600m (œ320m) at box offices worldwide. Despite this success, the film and its director were accused of anti-Semitism. Gibson vigorously denied this.
Gibson is a conservative Catholic and has been vocal in his opposition to abortion, birth control and divorce. However, his religious views are not as conservative as those held by his father Hutton, who set up a group called Alliance for Catholic Tradition and has questioned the extent of the Holocaust. Mel Gibson has avoided publicly criticising his father, saying, 'He never denied the Holocaust - he just said there were fewer than six million.'
On August 1, 2006, BBC news issued a detailed coverage of the Mel Gibson scandal and of Gibson's apology to the Jewish community. The article includes a column of links to other BBC pieces giving earlier details on the matter. It also includes links to the full text of Gibson's apology and to Ari Emanual's boycott call. It can be found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5234142.stm
On August 3, 2006, the ABC's 7.30 Report produced a segment reporting on the recent Mel Gibson scandal. The report includes comments from Gibson, the arresting officer and Ari Emanuel as well as others. A full transcript of the report can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2006/s1705544.htm
On August 3, 2006, an opinion piece written by Miranda Devine was published in The Sydney Morning Herald. The piece was titled 'Reaction is as affronting as the meltdown'. The piece argues that Gibson's drunk driving should have attracted at least as much public disapproval as his anti-Semitic remarks. The comment can be found at http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/reaction-is-as-affronting-as-the-meltdown/2006/08/02/1154198202326.html
Arguments in favour of Hollywood filmmakers boycotting Mel Gibson
1. Gibson appears to hold anti-Semitic views
Gibson has admitted to claiming while drunk that Jews are responsible for the wars of the world. He also asked whether the officer who arrested him was Jewish. These comments have been seen as confirming anti-Semitic views which Gibson was suspected to have had after the making of the film 'The Passion of the Christ'.
Abraham Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League, has commented in relation to this film, 'In the screenplay, which he co-wrote, Gibson had cherry-picked some of the most vitriolic passages from the four Gospel stories and combined them to produce his own distorted version of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth nearly 2,000 years ago. Gibson ignored what most respected New Testament scholars knew: that the Gospel accounts are four separate, sometimes contradictory, renditions of the story of the last hours of Jesus and cannot be picked apart like a Chinese menu.
Gibson then added into this volatile mix the anti-Semitic writings of a 19th century nun - clearly not part of the New Testament - and declared the whole thing to be the truth of Scripture. This was bad history, bad theology and a direct violation of the guidelines of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on how to present the Passion story.'
2. Gibson's apologies are not sufficient
There are those who have argued that each of Gibson's apologies was issued as a public relations exercise and neither represents a genuine change of heart or an indication that he will behave differently in the future.
Abraham Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League, has claimed that Gibson's response was 'unremorseful and insufficient'. Mr Foxman has urged that the entire movie industry, not just potential audiences, should cease to work with Gibson or view his work. Mr Foxman has said, 'We would hope that Hollywood now would realise the bigot in their midst and that they will distance themselves from this anti-Semite.'
Those who argue that Gibson's apologies mean nothing point to his previous declarations that the film, 'The Passion of the Christ', which he directed and produced, was not an indication of anti-Semitism. In a 2004 interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer, Gibson said he was not anti-Semitic. 'To be anti-Semitic is a sin,' he said. 'It's been condemned by one Papal Council after another. To be anti-Semitic is to be un-Christian, and I'm not.'
They claim that Gibson's recent drunken outbursts reveal both his true feelings and his inability to moderate his views after the criticism his film received because of its supposed anti-Jewish presentation of the story of Christ's suffering and death.
It has also been noted that Mel Gibson had previously indicated that he would control his drinking and that he considered drink driving foolish behaviour. According to Gibson's critics, his recent behaviour shows that these previous statements also meant very little.
3. Current international conflicts and tensions make anti-Semitism particularly dangerous
Numerous public commentators have noted that the current hostilities in the Middle East between Israel and Lebanon and the activities of Muslim terrorists make this a particularly inappropriate time for well-known public figures to express anti-Semitic views.
Ariel 'Ari' Emanuel is a prominent talent agent and founder of the Endeavor Agency in Beverly Hills, California. Mr Emanuel has stated, '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 ... 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. There are times in history when standing up against bigotry and racism is more important than money.'
Joy Behar, co-host of 'The View' has similarly stated, 'The world is so dangerous between what's going on in the Middle East right now, and for this idiot to come out and say things ...'
Last year, the US State Department reported a rise in global anti-Semitism, noting the 'increasing frequency and severity of anti-Semitic incidents ... particularly in Europe'. In Spain the Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, recently claimed to 'understand' the sentiments of the Nazis, while France's ambassador to Britain has described Israel as a 'shitty little country'.
4. Many prominent people in Hollywood are Jewish and are likely to be very offended by Gibson's remarks
In Hollywood, those of Jewish belief or descent work at every level of production, from studio executives to producers to agents. Gibson's own publicist, Alan Nierob, is Jewish. For many, the words Gibson uttered will be more than they are prepared to accept and they are unlikely to want to work with him further.
The long-time agent, Bernie Brillstein, has remarked, 'If he calls me tomorrow, would I represent him? The answer is no. That doesn't make me right. I just don't like bigots.'
The producer of 'Spiderman', Laura Ziskin, is Jewish. She has called Gibson's comments, 'appalling' and 'sad'. Further, producer Arnon Milchan was quoted in the L.A. Times as saying, 'To make all your money from Jews and say you hate Jews is shocking'.
Robert Thompson, professor of television at the University of Syracuse, has said, 'There are some limitations' to how far a star can go in recovering from a scandal.
'I would not in a million years like to be handling the PR for Mel Gibson right now.
We're talking about a community he has to operate in, a Hollywood community. He's going to have a very difficult time, not to mention the fact that there had been some accusations during "The Passion of the Christ" release.
Obviously there are lots of Jewish people working in Hollywood ... Hollywood in general does not look happily upon this kind of misbehaviour ...Any kind of movie he wants to make, he's going to ... carry with him the baggage of this story.'
5. Gibson is likely to have damaged his box-office appeal
It has been claimed by some that Mel Gibson's outbursts have done his public image great harm and reduced his appeal as either a film star or a film director and producer. According to this line of argument, Gibson's box office appeal has been seriously damaged and he therefore is no longer a viable partner or star in any major film production.
Michael Levine, a prominent media publicist who has represented Michael Jackson and Charlton Heston, has stated, 'It's a nuclear disaster for him [Gibson]. I don't see how he can restore himself.'
Producer Peter Bart, has said Mr Gibson had 'seriously compromised' his career.
'The critics will forever kill him,' Mr Bart has written in industry newspaper Variety. 'Sectors of the audience will shun his work. Through his incoherent tirades he has betrayed his friends and colleagues.'
Arguments against Hollywood filmmakers boycotting Mel Gibson
1. Mel Gibson has apologised for his remarks
Gibson has twice apologised for his behaviour and comments. He initially stated, 'After drinking alcohol on Thursday night, I did a number of things that were very wrong and for which I am ashamed.
I drove a car when I should not have, and was stopped by the LA County Sheriffs. The arresting officer was just doing his job and I feel fortunate that I was apprehended before I caused injury to any other person. I acted like a person completely out of control when I was arrested, and said things that I do not believe to be true and which are despicable.
I am deeply ashamed of everything I said. Also, I take this opportunity to apologise to the deputies involved for my belligerent behaviour. They have always been there for me in my community and indeed probably saved me from myself. I disgraced myself and my family with my behaviour and for that I am truly sorry.
I have battled with the disease of alcoholism for all of my adult life and profoundly regret my horrific relapse. I apologise for any behaviour unbecoming of me in my inebriated state and have already taken necessary steps to ensure my return to health.'
Gibson then issued a second apology specifically to the Jewish community on the Monday after his arrest. He stated, '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 said to a law enforcement officer the night I was arrested on a DUI charge.
I am a public person, and when I say something, either articulated and thought out, or blurted out in a moment of insanity, my words carry weight in the public arena. As a result, I must assume personal responsibility for my words and apologize directly to those who have been hurt and offended by those words.
The tenets of what I profess to believe necessitate that I exercise charity and tolerance as a way of life. Every human being is God's child, and if I wish to honour my God I have to honour his children. But please know from my heart that I am not an anti-Semite. I am not a bigot. Hatred of any kind goes against my faith.
I'm not just asking for forgiveness. I would like to take it one step further, and meet with leaders in the Jewish community, with whom I can have a one on one discussion to discern the appropriate path for healing.
I have begun an ongoing program of recovery and what I am now realising is that I cannot do it alone. I am in the process of understanding where those vicious words came from during that drunken display, and I am asking the Jewish community, whom I have personally offended, to help me on my journey through recovery. Again, I am reaching out to the Jewish community for its help. I know there will be many in that community who will want nothing to do with me, and that would be understandable. But I pray that that door is not forever closed.
This is not about a film. Nor is it about artistic license. This is about real life and recognising the consequences hurtful words can have. It's about existing in harmony in a world that seems to have gone mad.'
2. Mel Gibson's remarks were made while he was extremely intoxicated
Mel Gibson has claimed that his remarks were made under the influence of alcohol and do not reflect his true views. In the first public apology he issued he stated, '
'I acted like a person completely out of control when I was arrested, and said things that I do not believe to be true and which are despicable. I am deeply ashamed of everything I said and I apologise to anyone who I have offended ...
I have battled the disease of alcoholism for all of my adult life and profoundly regret my horrific relapse. I apologise for any behaviour unbecoming of me in my inebriated state and have already taken necessary steps to ensure my return to health.'
Dr. Marc Galanter, the director of the alcohol and drug abuse division at New York University Medical Center, has commented on the Mel Gibson case and claimed that alcohol can often cause people to say things they normally would not. Dr Galanter has further stated that those statements should be taken at face value.
'When people are heavily intoxicated, they often say things that relate to issues that may be on their mind, but don't necessarily reflect their true attitudes as they'd express them when sober,' Dr Galanter has noted. 'You end up with a person whose judgment is compromised, who has trouble thinking clearly, and whose memory may be affected.'
3. An individual's private life or views should not impact on his/her professional life
Some of those defending Mel Gibson have argued that his private life and views should have no bearing on how his work is received. Columnist for The Australian, Miranda Devine, has argued, 'If you condemned all art because the artist is a ratbag, there wouldn't be much left.'
This opinion has been put by a fan in an online response to the question, 'Will his recent comments damage Mel Gibson's career?' printed in The Sydney Morning Herald on August 3, 2006. The fan stated, 'If Apocalypto [the next film to be produced and directed by Mel Gibson] is a well made movie (which it very well might be), then Mel Gibson's personal issues with the Jews don't really take away from the quality of the film itself... A good movie is a good movie.'
It has further been noted that if Gibson is to be condemned for aspects of his private life, there are equally elements of his life for which he could be unreservedly praised.
Although the Gibsons have avoided publicity over their philanthropy, they are believed to spend a great deal of money on various charities.
One known charity is Healing The Children. According to Cris Embleton, one of the founders, the Gibsons have given millions to provide lifesaving medical help to needy children worldwide.
While filming the movie Apocalypto in the jungles of Mexico's Veracruz state, the Gibsons donated money to build houses for poor people in the region.
4. Boycotting Gibson would make Hollywood's Jewish community appear vengeful and actually promote anti-Semitism
Some of those who support a forgiving attitude toward Mel Gibson's comments stress that if Hollywood's Jewish community adopts a vengeful approach they will actually encourage ill-feeling toward Jews.
There are also those who have argued that some of the prominent Jewish spokespeople who have criticised Mel Gibson have used his drunken lapse as a way of undermining Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ'.
Supporters of Gibson argue that neither of these actions will promote positive attitudes toward Jews in Hollywood. Instead the will make Hollywood's Jewish community appear narrow-minded and bigoted in its turn.
Michael Gaynor, writing in The Conservative Voice, has criticised Abe Foxman, the National Director of the Anti-Defamation League, for his initial refusal to accept Mel Gibson's apology.
Mr Gaynor has written, 'Mr. Gibson presumably is genuinely remorseful, and God presumably has forgiven Mr. Gibson. But, Abraham H. Foxman, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League, has not. Instead of taking the high road and accepting the apology, Mr. Foxman took the low road (and he was sober!) He not only reviled Mr. Gibson and his apology, but proceeded to give much more encouragement to anti-Semitism than Mr. Gibson might have last Friday while inebriated, by using the unfortunate incident to disrespect "The Passion of the Christ".'
5. Mel Gibson remains a talented and powerful Hollywood actor, director and producer
It has been claimed that Mel Gibson's talent, wealth and previous success as a Hollywood actor, director and producer will enable him to survive the bad publicity caused by his drunken, anti-Semitic comments.
Mel Gibson is the wealthiest actor in Hollywood. About half the $600 million grossed by Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ' went directly to Gibson as producer, director and in part distributor. His independent production company, Icon Productions, means his can undertake his own projects without having to rely on the support of other Hollywood filmmakers. This was the case when Gibson made 'The Passion of the Christ' without the support of the traditional Hollywood production companies and distribution networks.
Further implications
It is not certain the effect Gibson's recent drunken remarks will have on his career and production company Icon Productions. What the current controversy has highlighted is the problematic position of a number of Hollywood stars who had previously been regarded as virtually unassailable.
At the same time as calls were being made for Hollywood filmmakers to boycott Mel Gibson and Disney's production house ABC Productions had decided not to proceed with a television series to be produced in conjunction with icon Productions, Paramount pictures had decided not to renew its contract with Tom Cruise after 14 years of profitable association with him.
One of the reasons offered for not renewing Cruise's contract was that his private life had become a financial liability. It had been widely speculated that the lower than expected box office returns from Mission Impossible III could be in part be attributed to unfavourable publicity attracted by Cruise's outspoken promotion of Scientology and his flamboyant courtship of Katie Holmes. Whatever the cause, recent popularity surveys have indicated that Tom Cruise's audience appeal has declined.
Mel Gibson would clearly be liable to a similar commercial cold shoulder if his audience appeal is found to have been damaged. In the case of Tom Cruise a further factor encouraging Paramount to sever connections with him is said to have been the very high percentage of film profits that Cruise has typically demanded as part of his remuneration package. Mel Gibson does not have to make such demands as he is able to produce his own films, however, even he is not completely independent of the Hollywood production and distribution network and so, though arguably less vulnerable than Cruise, he will need to continuing producing films with a strong audience appeal if his work is to remain more than an expensive personal indulgence.
Newspaper items used in the compilation of this issue outline Age
August 2, page 1, news item by Geoffrey Wright, `Gibson suffers industry backlash'.
August 1, page 5, news item by Cohen and Strong, `Gibson future in Hollywood balance'.
August 7, page 11, comment (cartoon) by Michael Gawenda, `Who are Gibson's accusers?'.
August 5, Insight section, page 3, analysis (photo) by Mary McNamara, `Star's hard road to redemption'.
August 4, page 13, comment by Maureen Dowd, `Mel needs a long stint at AA: Anti-Semites Anonymous'.
Australian
July 31, page 1, news item by David Nason, `Arrested Gibson rants about Jews'.
August 1, page 10, news item (photo) by Bodey and Lusetich, `Hollywood fury at Gibson's Jewish rant'.
August 2, page 14, comment (cartoon) by Christopher Hitchens, `Let these rantings be the last words we hear from this ham'.
August 11, page 13, comment by Frank Devine, `The booze was doing all the talking for Mel Gibson'.
August 8, page 12, comment by Phillip Adams, `Mel's affliction seems hereditary'.
August 5, page 21, analysis (photos) by Robert Lusetich, `Mad as a maverick'.
Herald-Sun
August 4, page 19, cartoon.
August 5, page 23, analysis (photos) by Adam Harvey, `Raveheart'.
August 2, page 13, news item (photos) by Adam Harvey, `Gibson from spotlight to lowlight'.
August 8, page 19, comment (with still from film Passion of the Christ) by Bryan Patterson, `Sins of the father'. NOTE: Listed items may still be available on the Web. To search for them, cut and paste any headline into the search-box below (or type the headline in exactly) then click the search button. The search opens in a NEW WINDOW.
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