Mel Gibson makes the Frigid 50

[Nova]

That's the trouble. Gibson acts and speaks as though other people are out to get him; they made him drive drunk and spew hate speech. It's the "poor me" syndrome. He was sooooo conflicted over the reaction to Passion of the Christ, forget the zillions in profit and the new directorial opportunities.

Poor Mel. Just can't do anything right.

That pretty well sums him up and that's how he was long before the recent "incident."

How unfortunate to be so pretty and talented and rich!

 

[Peter Hamilton]

Mel was on the Tonight Show--he seemed beyond nervous...almost psychotic

 

[Jacobi]

Apocalypto has just received a Golden Globe nomination for best Foreign Language film. It's up against Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima, Almodovar's Volver, and my favourite, Pan's Labyrinth from Del Toro.

 

[BeeBee]

I'm not feeling very good tonight and reading this crap again has got me a little pissed. Had it been ME that was pulled over drunk and jump out of my car spewing hate toward the Jews or some one else, who would have known or cared?? But, when your in the public eye, it's like you have to bow down every time you say a wrong word about anything.

So it comes out the guy doesn't like Jews. SO what?? Has he hurt anyone? (I'm talking besides someones little feelings.) It's really no ones business. I don't think he has to apologise to anyone, go into any sort of therapy or any of the other things some have suggested. If he doesn't like Jews then he doesn't like them. I doubt it's really hurting any Jewish peoples feelings. The guy's a genius that doesn't care for Jews. Get over it for Pete's sake.

 

[narlacat]

I totally agree BeeBee, who cares who Mel Gibson likes or dislikes...but how is he a genius? he's just an actor who gets over paid in my book.

 

[windovervocalcords]

I'm not feeling very good tonight and reading this crap again has got me a little pissed. Had it been ME that was pulled over drunk and jump out of my car spewing hate toward the Jews or some one else, who would have known or cared?? But, when your in the public eye, it's like you have to bow down every time you say a wrong word about anything.

So it comes out the guy doesn't like Jews. SO what?? Has he hurt anyone? (I'm talking besides someones little feelings.) It's really no ones business. I don't think he has to apologise to anyone, go into any sort of therapy or any of the other things some have suggested. If he doesn't like Jews then he doesn't like them. I doubt it's really hurting any Jewish peoples feelings. The guy's a genius that doesn't care for Jews. Get over it for Pete's sake.

My question is this.

We have long threads in many places speculating on the actions, words and motivations of celebrities. Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Oprah, OJ, Dixie Chicks Rosie O' Donnell etc etc. Some of these threads also go on and on.

This thread apparently has "juice". A famous celebrity with a dark family history (Mel's dad is a Holocaust denier) who promotes himself and his art as religious falls publically, and his arrogance and fame reduce him to human size, like the rest of us.

Add to that, the context of the world situation, being at war in the Middle East, having a series of celebrities make racist remarks recently, Foley, Haggard, the culture war on Christmas etc. Its not so surprising the thread and others similar have gone on a bit.

Although if you check Tom Cruise gets an award for a longer thread than Mel Gibson.


At the very least, a positive benefit out of Mel Gibson's unfortunate behavior has been a look at anti-semitism, (A far more serious issue than his anti-semitic remarks, at least immediately, is that he was driving while drunk, which may have cost Gibson and others precious human life) and the "passes" celebrity seem to get when they mess up. Go into treatment, apologize, get another chance. Poor people in similar circumstance do not come out as unscathed as Mel Gibson. I do not feel sorry for his negative publicity. It does not appear to have harmed him much with his success.

Gibson got off very easy IMO. He did not kill anyone this time. He got some bad publicity but still has his film nominated and lots of dough coming in. Poor Mel? I don't think so.

The threads all have lives of their own. I have seen many of them just poop out.

I have certainly been ready to quit this one many times and someone resurrects it.

Mel Gibson is one thing and I do think its harmful and serious. Look at what happens when we have Holocaust deniers like American David Duke doing the same thing in Iran at this time.

Anti-semitic remarks are not harmless. They can and do escalate.

Case in point, David Duke, is making a career out of fanning the flames of hatred against Jews in the Middle East with anti-semitic lectures in Ukraine and Iran.

 

[Marthatex]

I'm not feeling very good tonight and reading this crap again has got me a little pissed. Had it been ME that was pulled over drunk and jump out of my car spewing hate toward the Jews or some one else, who would have known or cared?? But, when your in the public eye, it's like you have to bow down every time you say a wrong word about anything.

So it comes out the guy doesn't like Jews. SO what?? Has he hurt anyone? (I'm talking besides someones little feelings.) It's really no ones business. I don't think he has to apologise to anyone, go into any sort of therapy or any of the other things some have suggested. If he doesn't like Jews then he doesn't like them. I doubt it's really hurting any Jewish peoples feelings. The guy's a genius that doesn't care for Jews. Get over it for Pete's sake.

Yes, the Jewish policeman might have taken note, even if you or I had done such a stupid thing. We would have been slapped with resisting arrest, which Gibson was not, 'cause he's "special", I guess.

Not liking a whole group of people, is a bit different from expressing our "preferences", don't like the color purple, or don't like cream in our coffee.

Mel GIbson is where he is today because of people like you and me who like his movies, thought he was handsome and paid to see them. When challenged, he insisted he was NOT like his father, he insisted that he did NOT intend Passion of the Christ to be anti-semitic.

Turns out he probably was anti-semitic, therefore a bigot and a liar. He offended probably a large number who work with him in Hollywood and those who helped make him what he is today. Yes, I imagine he did hurt feelings.
He couldn't even admit that he still had a drinking problem, until he was "caught", and could have hurt or killed others. Even then, he goes through an "in home" treatment program. People have said on other threads, like the Dixie Chicks', that if you're in the public eye you have to take the consequences for what you say.

Even his apologies have been shallow and have a"they're out to get me' component. Being a bigot is alot worse than expressing an opinion about anti-depressant drugs or even screaming hate comments on a stage when you're being heckled IMO. Driving drunk down a highway and resisting arrest and peeing on the jail floor might be a tad immature for a 50-something Hollywood star.

The thread continues because now he's come out with a ghastly, violent movie and people wonder, why this excess? I never saw any of his movies, and personally will never pay to see one in the future.

 

[Nova]

So it comes out the guy doesn't like Jews. SO what?? Has he hurt anyone? (I'm talking besides someones little feelings.) It's really no ones business. I don't think he has to apologise to anyone, go into any sort of therapy or any of the other things some have suggested. If he doesn't like Jews then he doesn't like them. I doubt it's really hurting any Jewish peoples feelings. The guy's a genius that doesn't care for Jews. Get over it for Pete's sake.

No one's business. Well, not as long as he kept those evil thoughts in his head.

But once he starts spewing that garbage in public, his nastiness becomes part of the "free marketplace of ideas" intended by the Founding Fathers. Our freedom of speech is based on the (perhaps naive) notion that in a free marketplace of ideas, good ideas will win out over bad ideas.

But that can't happen unless right-thinking people speak up and out EVERY SINGLE TIME a bigot such as Gibson starts spreading his poison.

Why opposition to Gibson affects you so personally is something only you can answer, Bee Bee. I won't presume. (ETA: Sorry, BB. I realized later that this last remark might be read to imply you agree with Gibson's anti-semitic comments. I'm sure that isn't true and I didn't mean to imply it. I only meant what I said, that I don't know why criticism of Gibson bothers you. After all, he has received hundreds of millions of dollars of praise over the years.)

 

[windovervocalcords]

No one's business. Well, not as long as he kept those evil thoughts in his head.

But once he starts spewing that garbage in public, his nastiness becomes part of the "free marketplace of ideas" intended by the Founding Fathers. Our freedom of speech is based on the (perhaps naive) notion that in a free marketplace of ideas, good ideas will win out over bad ideas.

But that can't happen unless right-thinking people speak up and out EVERY SINGLE TIME a bigot such as Gibson starts spreading his poison.

Why opposition to Gibson affects you so personally is something only you can answer, Bee Bee. I won't presume. (ETA: Sorry, BB. I realized later that this last remark might be read to imply you agree with Gibson's anti-semitic comments. I'm sure that isn't true and I didn't mean to imply it. I only meant what I said, that I don't know why criticism of Gibson bothers you. After all, he has received hundreds of millions of dollars of praise over the years.)

PS Happy Hanukkah one and all. May no one ever be oppressed for their beliefs.

 

[csds703]

I'm not feeling very good tonight and reading this crap again has got me a little pissed. Had it been ME that was pulled over drunk and jump out of my car spewing hate toward the Jews or some one else, who would have known or cared?? But, when your in the public eye, it's like you have to bow down every time you say a wrong word about anything.

So it comes out the guy doesn't like Jews. SO what?? Has he hurt anyone? (I'm talking besides someones little feelings.) It's really no ones business. I don't think he has to apologise to anyone, go into any sort of therapy or any of the other things some have suggested. If he doesn't like Jews then he doesn't like them. I doubt it's really hurting any Jewish peoples feelings. The guy's a genius that doesn't care for Jews. Get over it for Pete's sake.

It's a big deal because he's in the public eye, the same way it was a big deal when Tom Cruise made his statement about anti depressants.
For whatever reason, people look up to celebrities and that is why they must be challenged when their beliefs fuel prejudicial feelings.

 

[LinasK]

I'm not feeling very good tonight and reading this crap again has got me a little pissed. Had it been ME that was pulled over drunk and jump out of my car spewing hate toward the Jews or some one else, who would have known or cared?? But, when your in the public eye, it's like you have to bow down every time you say a wrong word about anything.

So it comes out the guy doesn't like Jews. SO what?? Has he hurt anyone? (I'm talking besides someones little feelings.) It's really no ones business. I don't think he has to apologise to anyone, go into any sort of therapy or any of the other things some have suggested. If he doesn't like Jews then he doesn't like them. I doubt it's really hurting any Jewish peoples feelings. The guy's a genius that doesn't care for Jews. Get over it for Pete's sake.

Sorry, I'm Jewish, and I'm highly offended by Mel Gibson's comments. He does owe me a personal apology! I'm not "getting over it"! I'll never see another Mel Gibson movie as long as I live. I don't go to Woody Allen movies either since he started molesting his step-daughter.

Mel Gibson is one thing and I do think its harmful and serious. Look at what happens when we have Holocaust deniers like American David Duke doing the same thing in Iran at this time.

Anti-semitic remarks are not harmless. They can and do escalate.

Case in point, David Duke, is making a career out of fanning the flames of hatred against Jews in the Middle East with anti-semitic lectures in Ukraine and Iran.

Exactly! This is how Hitler got started.

 

[Nova]

Sorry, I'm Jewish, and I'm highly offended by Mel Gibson's comments...

I don't blame you. I'm not Jewish and I feel exactly the same.

 

[csds703]

No one's business. Well, not as long as he kept those evil thoughts in his head.

But once he starts spewing that garbage in public, his nastiness becomes part of the "free marketplace of ideas" intended by the Founding Fathers. Our freedom of speech is based on the (perhaps naive) notion that in a free marketplace of ideas, good ideas will win out over bad ideas.

But that can't happen unless right-thinking people speak up and out EVERY SINGLE TIME a bigot such as Gibson starts spreading his poison.

Why opposition to Gibson affects you so personally is something only you can answer, Bee Bee. I won't presume. (ETA: Sorry, BB. I realized later that this last remark might be read to imply you agree with Gibson's anti-semitic comments. I'm sure that isn't true and I didn't mean to imply it. I only meant what I said, that I don't know why criticism of Gibson bothers you. After all, he has received hundreds of millions of dollars of praise over the years.)

This is exactly how I feel. If we sit back and allow hateful people to get away with their ignorance then we are just as guilty as they are.

 

[csds703]

Sorry, I'm Jewish, and I'm highly offended by Mel Gibson's comments. He does owe me a personal apology! I'm not "getting over it"! I'll never see another Mel Gibson movie as long as I live. I don't go to Woody Allen movies either since he started molesting his step-daughter.

Exactly! This is how Hitler got started.

Linask
I'm with you on this, I will not get over it either, and I resent anybody telling me I have to.

 

[Nova]

This is exactly how I feel. If we sit back and allow hateful people to get away with their ignorance then we are just as guilty as they are.

Maybe worse. After all, we know better.

 

[sandraladeda]

Sorry, I'm Jewish, and I'm highly offended by Mel Gibson's comments. He does owe me a personal apology! I'm not "getting over it"! I'll never see another Mel Gibson movie as long as I live. I don't go to Woody Allen movies either since he started molesting his step-daughter.

I believe that if something or someone offends you, only you can decide how to react to it. I am not in your shoes, and I can't tell you to "get over it" or that you have no reason to be offended. If you feel that you are standing on a principle by boycotting Mel movies, then good for you, I support that.

I was disappointed in the way Catholics were protrayed in The DaVinci Code. I am disappointed in Ron Howard and Tom Hanks for making this movie, and I don't wish to support their careers any longer. That is a principle I am standing on (not trying o resurrect a DVC debate, I know, it's been done)

I don't support Michael Jackson's career any longer, I don't pay to see Tom Cruise movies any more after his mistreatment of Brooke Shields and his attitude towards people who use drugs for depression, and I am sure there are other celebs I no longer support that I just can't think of right now.

When you are offended, voting with your feet and your wallet makes sense, imo.

 

[IrishMist]

I believe that if something or someone offends you, only you can decide how to react to it. I am not in your shoes, and I can't tell you to "get over it" or that you have no reason to be offended. If you feel that you are standing on a principle by boycotting Mel movies, then good for you, I support that.

I was disappointed in the way Catholics were protrayed in The DaVinci Code. I am disappointed in Ron Howard and Tom Hanks for making this movie, and I don't wish to support their careers any longer. That is a principle I am standing on (not trying o resurrect a DVC debate, I know, it's been done)

I don't support Michael Jackson's career any longer, I don't pay to see Tom Cruise movies any more after his mistreatment of Brooke Shields and his attitude towards people who use drugs for depression, and I am sure there are other celebs I no longer support that I just can't think of right now.

When you are offended, voting with your feet and your wallet makes sense, imo.

I have to agree with you, SandraLa. (On the bolded part)

 

[BirdieBoo]

As far as the remarks, I have a feeling if anyone made the same remarks on this forum, they'd be banned. So, Its probably also NOT ok to make those kind of remarks in public either..

And I agree with Linask, it is where Hitler got started. Hitler even had supporters right down to the very end, and he still does. The thing about intolerance, though, is that it hurts everyone. It even hurts people who support the intolerance. Whether they know it or not, it hurts them. And when it was supported, it makes way for more of the same and it just gets uglier the further it is allowed to spread.

MG had a pretty bad rep as an anti-semite in Hollywood even before this DUI arrest, and even before "The Passion of the Christ". Those kind of reputations don't usually just come out of nowhere, so he has obviously made remarks before, not just quite so publicly and scandalously. I hope he gets the help he needs.

 

[LinasK]

As far as the remarks, I have a feeling if anyone made the same remarks on this forum, they'd be banned. So, Its probably also NOT ok to make those kind of remarks in public either..

And I agree with Linask, it is where Hitler got started. Hitler even had supporters right down to the very end, and he still does. The thing about intolerance, though, is that it hurts everyone. It even hurts people who support the intolerance. Whether they know it or not, it hurts them. And when it was supported, it makes way for more of the same and it just gets uglier the further it is allowed to spread.

MG had a pretty bad rep as an anti-semite in Hollywood even before this DUI arrest, and even before "The Passion of the Christ". Those kind of reputations don't usually just come out of nowhere, so he has obviously made remarks before, not just quite so publicly and scandalously. I hope he gets the help he needs.

Exactly! And it wasn't "just the alcohol talking"...