Monday, Jul. 27, 2009

Mel Gibson

"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."

On July 28, 2006, an intoxicated Mel Gibson was pulled over by a Malibu cop for driving under the influence. The enraged actor-director launched into an anti-Semitic rant, which included the statement, "Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world," according to a police report published by TMZ. Gibson, who had already been labeled an anti-Semite after directing The Passion of the Christ, became an industry outcast; many in Hollywood vowed never to work with him again. He publicly apologized the next day, but his sentiments were deemed insufficient by many within the Jewish community. On Aug. 1, Gibson issued a written second apology, expressing his hopes of beginning a "one-on-one discussion [with Jewish leaders] to discern the appropriate path for healing." Gibson later checked into rehab for alcoholism.

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