Mel Gibson has issued an apology amid backlash over his recent appearance at FanExpo Canada, where the Oscar winner mocked an ASL interpreter while walking on stage to attend his retrospective Q&A. Video of the incident was widely circulated on social media platforms like X, with Gibson condemned for his insensitive actions.
“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 in a statement to Variety. “There was no intended maliciousness attached, and I certainly apologise to anyone who was upset by it.”
Variety has reached out to representatives for FanExpo Canada for additional comment.
FanExpo Canada is held annually and is billed as “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 expo took place Saturday, Aug. 29, and included autograph and photo opportunities for fans that were priced at $275 each, per the event’s website.
The viral video of Gibson appearing to mock the Fan Expo ASL interpreter sparked backlash against the actor as well as FanExpo for platforming the controversial star. Users on X also began sharing a video of “Reacher” star Alan Ritchson at the same event and praising him for shaking the hand of the ASL interpreter after his Q&A wrapped.
Gibson, who recently wrapped production on his “Passion of the Christ” follow-up movie “The Resurrection of the Christ,” has been on the expo circuit this summer. He previously attended Fan Expo Boston, where he made headlines for touting why “Lethal Weapon 5” never happened.
Gibson was infamously arrested in 2006, during which he made disparaging comments about Jewish people. The backlash against Gibson over his antisemitic remarks soured his career in Hollywood. The upcoming two-part “Passion of the Christ” follow-up could mark his return to box office domination considering the 2004 original earned $612 million worldwide and was the highest-grossing R-rated movie for nearly two decades.
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From Variety US