MovieChat Forums > Mel Gibson Discussion > Joshua Malina urges Mel Gibson to be can...

Joshua Malina urges Mel Gibson to be canceled: "Why is Hollywood still hiring this raging anti-Semite?"


https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2021/12/mel-gibson-anti-semitism/620873/

In a piece for The Atlantic, The West Wing alum wonders why Gibson keeps getting high-profile gigs, from starring in Starz's John Wick prequel series The Continental to directing a new Lethal Weapon movie. "May I humbly suggest that in addition to a robust inclusion policy, Warner Bros. needs an equally robust exclusion policy?" says Malina. "How about “Don’t hire racist, anti-Semitic misogynists”? Free advice: Avoid this trifecta, Warner Bros. You want a triple threat? Don’t hire Mel Gibson; search for the next Donald O’Connor! And it’s not just Warner Bros. that’s wearing moral blinders. Earlier this year it was announced that Gibson will star in a John Wick origin series for Starz and Lionsgate Television. How did this guy become such a hot ticket again? Is it just that memories of his hate speech have faded, while Hollywood’s recollection of his box-office pull remains? It is inarguably true that the main targets of Gibson’s prejudice are the Jews, but what boggles my mind is that Hollywood is also overlooking his profound misogyny and forays into anti-Black racism. I wish anti-Jewish hatred alone were enough to get him cast into the wilderness, but, hey, if it has to be because of his other prejudices, I’m okay with that. Let him take the hundreds of millions he’s already earned in Hollywood and retire somewhere nice to contemplate his life choices. I hear the Judean Hills are lovely this time of year."

reply

People need to get over this delusional perspective, where they see someone as either a good guy or a bad guy, with no in-between, basing these opinions purely on the worst-looking moments of someone's history. Heck, place a magnifying glass on most people's worst moments and drunkest rants and they'll seem like the worst person ever. Especially if everyone continuously brings it up, talks about it, and insists on behaving as if that handful of moments is all the defines them. Or behaving as if that defines them at all, for that matter. Because while it may be part of what defines them, it doesn't necessarily. Sometimes people just impulsively talk shit for various reasons, without it actually meaning anything deeper than that. Whether or not you give them the benefit of the doubt in that regard is up to you. But don't pretend as if your leap of faith that they're a monster is the absolute truth and that we should all just agree with you on it.

It's ironic that people like this think they're the moral ones when all they do is dehumanize individuals on a regular basis.

reply

Cancel culture serves megalomaniacs who wish they were powerful enough to ruin other people's lives and careers. I you dislike someone or disagree with them, you can argue or fight about it, but there's no need for them to cease existing altogether.

reply

Brave Mel rocks. Fuck dirty Jews.

reply

How's that attitude working out for you? Found another job yet?

reply


What people say does not meet the level of calling them anti-Semites, or racists, or anything else in my book. It's what they do.

Walt Disney has been called an anti-Semite, yet he had many Jewish friends and there were many highly placed Jews in his company.

Is Mel an anti-Semite? I don't know, but people say all sorts of hurtful things in drunken rages in order to hurt people. Want to call him a mean drunk and an asshole? I'm on board with that.

reply

It is pretty hypocritical of Warner Brothers to hire Mel Gibson after firing Johnny Depp. At least Depp proved his innocence. Gibson is a confirmed anti-semite, racist and woman beater.

reply

Mel paid his penance, for easily 10-15 years. He’s STILL paying it, getting a fraction of the quality opportunities he used to get.

Mel is a recovering alcoholic and my guess is….probably bipolar as well. He admitted his faults, asked for forgiveness and has done much to make amends.

He does not deserve to be canceled forever. He has earned the right to a second chance, and he has a lot to offer.

I really admire those in the industry who understand Mel is much more than the sum of his demons. They forgave him and didn’t turn their back on him. People like Robert Downey, Jr. Jodi Foster and Danny Glover.

Mel is a complicated man with a lot of pain, anger and addiction he’s had to deal with. The flip side to that coin is…he’s also a funny, kind, charismatic man….with immense talent as both a writer and director.

I can’t wait for LW5, and whatever he does next. Who among us is without sin? Who among us has no forgiveness in their heart?

reply

This interview with him hints that there are way more people in Hollywood who are to be feared more than him (Christopher Walken in particular): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiXhwkg6ikI

reply

maybe it time we cancel shit actor like joshua melina and bring back mel gibson, and we make good film again.

reply

Remind me again who this Joshua is? His name doesn't ring any bells, whereas Mel Gibson's is known world-wide.

reply