Why Do People Hate Mel Gibson?
Mel Gibson is an Academy Award-winning actor, director and producer who has starred in blockbuster films like the Lethal Weapon series, Braveheart, and The Patriot. However, in recent years, Gibson has become just as well-known for controversies and offensive behavior as he has for his acting career. This has led many people to strongly dislike or even hate Mel Gibson.
Reasons for Dislike of Mel Gibson
Anti-Semitic Comments and Behavior
One of the biggest reasons why people hate Mel Gibson is due to anti-Semitic comments he has made and behavior he has exhibited.
In 2006, Gibson was arrested for driving under the influence. During his arrest, he made derogatory comments about Jewish people, saying things like “The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world.” This garnered significant backlash against Gibson.
Since then, further anti-Semitic comments from Gibson have surfaced, including leaked audio tapes of Gibson using hate speech and telling his ex-girlfriend that she would be “raped by a pack of n*****s.”
Domestic Abuse Allegations
Another reason many dislike Gibson is due to allegations of domestic abuse made against him by ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva.
Grigorieva claims that Gibson was physically abusive towards her on several occasions. More leaked audio tapes appear to show Gibson verbally abusing Grigorieva with sexist and racist language.
While Gibson denies being physically abusive, his racist, misogynistic rants on the leaked tapes have further turned people against him.
Homophobic Language
Further audio tapes surfaced of Gibson using homophobic slurs and saying disturbing things about gay men. This includes calling them “oven-dodgers” and making vulgar, threatening remarks about respected gay filmmakers.
Gibson’s repeated use of hateful, homophobic language has alienated many fans, particularly those in the LGBTQ community. It adds to the perception of Gibson as prejudiced and intolerant.
Hypocrisy as a Christian
As a devout traditional Catholic, Gibson has portrayed himself as a serious Christian. However, his hateful comments and abusive behavior seem to contradict Christian values.
This apparent hypocrisy – claiming to be a righteous Christian while acting hatefully – has made many believers and faith leaders condemn Gibson. It has highlighted an inconsistency between his professed faith and his real-life actions.
Refusal to Apologize or Take Responsibility
Another issue many have with Gibson is his lack of sincere apologies or ownership for his offensive comments and actions.
Gibson has either refused to apologize, made lighthearted apologies that seem insincere, or claimed not to remember offensive incidents. He also seems unwilling to acknowledge the hurt his words and actions have caused minorities.
This lack of remorse or personal responsibility for hate speech and abuse has further angered critics and former fans of Gibson. It makes redemption and forgiveness difficult.
Ongoing Projects and Career Status
Despite the controversies and damaged reputation, Gibson has continued working on Hollywood projects in recent years. However, his career is not at the heights it once reached.
Declining Box Office Success
The box office performance of Gibson’s recent films has declined significantly compared to the peak of his career.
Some examples:
- Braveheart (1995) – $210 million worldwide gross
- The Patriot (2000) – $215 million worldwide gross
- Edge of Darkness (2010) – $81 million worldwide gross
- Get the Gringo (2012) – $20 million worldwide gross
As Gibson’s controversies multiplied over the years, the public has become much less interested in seeing his new films. Most of his movies in the 2010s have flopped financially.
Difficulties Getting Roles and Distribution
Due to his toxic reputation, Gibson has had a harder time getting lead acting roles from major studios lately.
His efforts to direct and produce new films have also faced challenges. Some studios have declined to finance or distribute projects involving Gibson, like The Professor and the Madman which was mired in release delays.
While Gibson continues making movies independently, his tarnished public image has reduced his clout in Hollywood.
Critical Reception Declining
In addition to declining box office success, reviews of Gibson’s recent films have been mediocre to poor in many cases.
Whereas films like Braveheart won Best Picture and rave reviews in the 1990s, more recent efforts like Blood Father (2016) and Boss Level (2021) were panned by critics.
As such, the overall quality of Gibson’s films seems to have declined along with their financial performance and his reputation. The universal acclaim he once enjoyed has dissipated.
Table 1 summaries the performance of some of Gibson’s recent films:
| Film | Year | Box Office | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edge of Darkness | 2010 | $81 million | Rotten Tomatoes 54% |
| Get the Gringo | 2012 | $20 million | Rotten Tomatoes 77% |
| Blood Father | 2016 | $14 million | Rotten Tomatoes 88% |
| Boss Level | 2021 | $33 million | Rotten Tomatoes 43% |
Signs of a Career Comeback?
While Gibson’s career has declined significantly from his 1990’s peak, there are some signs he may be attempting a minor comeback recently.
He continues to have supporters willing to work with him, like Mark Wahlberg who starred alongside him in the 2022 film Father Stu. Other prominent conservatives like Sean Hannity have also defended Gibson.
In 2016, Gibson directed the well-received film Hacksaw Ridge, which earned $175 million and 6 Oscar nominations. This represented his best reviewed film in over a decade.
Gibson has also hinted he may direct a fifth Lethal Weapon film soon, which would likely generate significant nostalgic interest if it came to fruition.
So while Gibson is still largely blacklisted from major mainstream projects, he continues working on smaller films and may be plotting a path to slightly rehabilitate his image. However, the severity of his past controversies suggests his career is unlikely to fully recover to its former heights again.
Conclusion
In summary, Mel Gibson generates significant hate and dislike due to his history of racist, homophobic and misogynistic comments, alleged abusive behavior, and unapologetic stance towards his controversies. This has severely damaged his public reputation and acting/directing career over the past 15+ years.
While Gibson maintains a small fan base and continues working, the breadth of his offensive actions and unlikable public persona means much of the public will likely continue harboring dislike or hatred towards him for years to come. He is considered a pariah and cautionary tale of how not to behave in Hollywood.
Gibson squandered all the goodwill and acclaim he built up over his first 25 years in the film industry. While a minor comeback is possible, the prevailing public view of Mel Gibson remains predominantly negative due to his own offensive words and actions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mel Gibson Backlash
What anti-Semitic comments has Mel Gibson made?
Some of Gibson’s most infamous anti-Semitic comments include saying “Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world” during a 2006 DUI arrest. Leaked audio tapes also captured Gibson using hate speech and telling his ex-girlfriend she would be “raped by a pack of n*****s.”
What domestic abuse allegations have women made against him?
Ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva alleges Gibson physically assaulted her by punching her in the face and knocking out her teeth in one incident. Recorded tapes appear to show Gibson verbally abusing her using sexist and racist language on multiple occasions.
Why do people consider Mel Gibson a hypocrite as a Christian?
Gibson is a devout traditional Catholic who has portrayed himself as an earnest Christian. However, his hateful comments towards women, Jews, gay people and people of color seem to contradict Christian values of love, tolerance and compassion. This hypocrisy angers critics.
Has Gibson taken responsibility or apologized for his controversies?
For the most part, no. Gibson has either refused to apologize, made lighthearted apologies that appear insincere, or claimed not to remember offensive incidents he was recorded participating in. His lack of remorse angers former fans.
How has the public backlash affected Gibson’s career?
Gibson’s box office success and ability to get lead roles from major studios have declined sharply since his controversies multiplied in the 2000s. While he still works independently, his career is a shadow of its 1990s peak.
