USA/FILE: Los Angeles residents react to Mel Gibson's alleged anti-Semitic comments while being arrested for DUI

Many in Hollywood are debating whether Mel Gibson, who apologized for acting "completely out of control" during his recent confrontation with Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies, will be able to live down anti-Semitic comments that he allegedly made at the time. Gibson was stopped early Friday (July 28) for allegedly driving his 2006 Lexus at 87 mph (140 kph) along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. With a blood alcohol level of 0.12% (the legal limit is 0.08% in California), he was arrested and released several hours later on bail costing 5,000 U.S. dollars. Gibson, whose personal views are far to the right of traditional liberal Hollywood, was reported to have launched into a tirade against Jews, asking the arresting officer if he was a Jew and blaming the Jews for starting all wars. Gibson won an Oscar for directing "Braveheart" and his controversial film about the death of Jesus, "The Passion of the Christ," made over 600 million U.S. dollars. The arrest was initially reported to have been without incident, but celebrity Web site TMZ.com on Friday said authorities tried to cover up Gibson's behaviour and statements to save the star from embarrassment. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which arrested Gibson on suspicion of drunk driving, referred the case on Monday (July 31) to the Los Angeles District Attorney's office. The DA's office will decide whether to bring up charges. The debate is whether the incident would indeed have an ill effect on Gibson's career, with some saying that they doubted it would because the actor was a money maker for the studios. "'The Passion of the Christ' was his first overt presentation of his philosophy and I think from that moment on the perception of him changed in the public for better or for worse. He alienated some but then he gained a lot of supporters. This present debacle seems to be an extension of what he has done since "The Passion of the Christ" and will continue alienate some and may gain some supporters especially if he does atone for it," Brandon Gray, President of Box Office Mojo told Reuters. Human rights groups called on ABC to reconsider its plans to air a mini-series about a pair of lovers trapped in the Holocaust made by Gibson. An ABC spokeswoman said the project was at such an early stage that the studio has not even received a first script yet. Shortly before concluding eight months of gruelling filming two weeks ago in Veracruz, Mexico, Gibson showed 40 minutes of his next film "Apocalypto" film to Disney executives. According to one marketing executive, Disney is excited by the prospect of releasing the subtitled action thriller, told in the Mayan language. "Certainly Disney could issue a press release denouncing Mel Gibson's behaviour that would help because it does seem rather detestable. Other than that they have this deal to release (Mel Gibson's next) the picture. They are kind of stuck with it. We will see how much this will effect's future dealings beyond 'Apocalypto'", Gray said during an interview in Los Angeles, California on Monday (July 31). Los Angeles residents reacted to the news that the 50- year- old star allegedly made racial slurs during his arrest. "I heard that when Mel Gibson was arrested for drunk driving on PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) that he used anti- Semitic words and claimed that he owned all of Malibu and asked the Police Officers if they were Jews among other unpleasant things. I think he should be ashamed of himself for lying when he made the "Passion of the Christ" saying he wasn't a anti-semite. He looked right in Diane Sawyer's face and said it. He lied he should apologize and we should boycott his movies because movies and politics don't really go together," said Molly Wine, a Los Angeles resident while shopping at Farmers Market on Monday (July 31). The Web site posted portions of what it called the arresting deputy's original report, which said Gibson was abusive, shouted anti-Jewish slurs and boasted that he "owned Malibu." "To think that just because somebody is a celebrity means that they are not going to be a anti-Semite or racist or homophobic or whatever else is kind of our fault for think that celebrities should above and beyond all that. They are not. They are just people too. It does sort of colour my wanting to go see films of his certainly you know. Who wants to support that? I don't think I want to support it," said Matt Ebert, Los Angeles resident. The TMZ report quoted Gibson as saying, "F..... Jews. The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world." He then asked the deputy, "Are you a Jew?" "It doesn't surprise me. Just because I have heard rumours for years that he is racist and that he is a anti- Semite so it doesn't surprise me," said Amy Smith a Orange County resident. While many Hollywood stars have recovered from charges of driving under the influence, Gibson's reported remarks have renewed the charges of anti-Semitism that swirled around his 2004 film "The Passion of the Christ." "Well I think it's terrible when people like that you know they have to be careful what they say in the streets people look up to them. They have to be careful what they say I think it is terrible what happened," said Paul Cohen, a Orthodox Jewish Los Angeles resident. Gibson's longtime spokesman Alan Nierob on Saturday released a statement on behalf of his client, who admitted, "After drinking alcohol on Thursday night, I did a number of things that were very wrong and for which I am ashamed." "He hid it but like they say when you drink a little wine secrets come out. I hope all of Hollywood knows what he is really about." Eytan Miller, a Los Angeles resident told Reuters.

ITN Source | August 4, 2006

Tags:. .extension. .indeed. .terrible. .script. .jewish