Mel Gibson has apologised after facing criticism for appearing to “mock” a sign language interpreter on stage.
Videos of the 70-year-old actor’s recent appearance at FanExpo Canada captured the moment Gibson walked onto the stage.
As the Hollywood star emerged from behind the black curtains, he appeared to make hand gestures behind the sign language interpreter who was on stage.
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Clips of the incident quickly circulated on social media, with many viewers interpreting Gibson’s actions as him making fun of the interpreter and accusing the actor of being insensitive.
However, some fans defended Gibson, arguing it was difficult to determine exactly what he was doing.
One US-based sign language interpreter also said she did not believe Gibson was “mocking deaf people”, suggesting the actor was simply being “silly”.
On Monday, Gibson addressed the incident, explaining his actions in a statement to Variety.
“Sometimes when you get pushed out on a stage in a spotlight your mind is all over the place, and sometimes spontaneous thoughtless idiocy is displayed,” Gibson said.
“There was no intended maliciousness attached, and I certainly apologise to anyone who was upset by it.”
Mel Gibson has an issued an apology after facing criticism for his recent appearance. Credit: AAP, X
FanExpo Canada is held annually and is “the largest comics, sci-fi, horror, anime and gaming event in Canada and the third-largest Pop Culture event in North America”.
Gibson’s appearance at this year’s event took place over the weekend and included autograph and photo opportunities for fans that were priced at $US275 each, per the event’s website.
Mel Gibson denies making homophobic and anti-Semitic jokes
In June 2020, actress Winona Ryder made bombshell allegations against Braveheart star Mel Gibson, claiming he called her an “oven dodger” at a party in the 1990s.
She also claimed Gibson asked one of her gay friends if he was “gonna get AIDS”.
A representative for Gibson issued a statement at the time, strongly denying the allegations.
Winona Ryder made some wild allegations about Mel Gibson, with his team later strongly denying the claims. Credit: Getty
“This is 100% untrue,” the statement said.
“She lied about it over a decade ago, when she talked to the press, and she’s lying about it now.”
Ryder, 48, made the allegations in an interview with UK-based publication The Sunday Times.
“We were at a crowded party with one of my good friends, and Mel Gibson was smoking a cigar, and we were all talking, and he said to my friend, who’s gay, ‘Oh wait, am I gonna get AIDS?’,” she claimed.
“And then something came up about Jews, and he said, ‘You’re not an oven dodger, are you?’”
Ryder said she had family members who had died in concentration camps during WWII.
Describing it as a “weird, weird moment”, Ryder claimed Gibson later tried to apologise for the comments.
“He was really drunk,” Ryder said of the “horrible” joke.
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