Mel Gibson Says He’s Sober, Not Anti-Semitic and It’s Time To Move On

Mel Gibson Image by Getty Images

By Thea Glassman October 28, 2016

Mel Gibson doesn’t understand why people are still talking about anti-Semitic remarks he made after a drunk driving arrest in 2006.

During an interview with Variety’s podcast Playback, Gibson said he finds it “kind of annoying” when he’s asked to explain his drunken rant.

As a recap, ten years ago Gibson was recorded saying that “f—king Jews” are “responsible for all the wars in the world.” He then asked his arresting officer: “Are you a Jew?”

When asked by Playback’s interviewer how he responds to people who say they won’t watch his films as a result of those comments, the 60-year-old actor explained that he didn’t quite get the problem.

“I don’t understand why after 10 years it’s any kind of issue,” Gibson said. “Surely if I was really what they say I was, some kind of hater, there’d be evidence of actions somewhere.”

He went onto claim that accusations he is prejudiced are “unfair.”

“I’ve never discriminated against anyone or done anything that sort of supports that reputation,” the actor said.

Gibson, whose film “Hacksaw Ridge” comes out early next month, pointed to the fact that a number of years have elapsed since his rant—and people should move on.

“Ten years have gone by…I’m feeling good,” he said. “I’m sober, all of that kind of stuff, and for me it’s a dim thing in the past.”

Thea Glassman is an Associate Editor at the Forward. Reach her at glassman@forward.com or on Twitter at @theakglassman.

Thea Glassman was an associate editor for the Forward. Follow her on twitter @theakglassman.

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