Will you still watch a Mel Gibson movie...?

Question

...even though he made anti-semitic remarks to police when he got recently arrested for drunk driving?

Answer 1

I don't care about the drunk driving thing. I mean, I care, because he endangered himself and others, but I also have compassion for the fact that he is an admitted alcoholic, battling a disease, and had an unfortunate relapse. I'm glad nobody got hurt, and just from one human being to another, I wish him luck in dealing with the disease and its consequences.

The anti-Semitic statements are another matter. In the first place, Mel Gibson has always been vocal about his personal. He was accused of, and vehemently denied, any anti-Semitic beliefs during the making of & theater run of "The Passion of the Christ." So now the truth comes out, he actually IS a bigot, and he tries after the fact to cover it up by saying he didn't mean those things. Pathetic and inadequate!

"Alleged"? He's apologized through the media for his words & behaviors, so to the person who said nothing has been confirmed, I disagree. Not only did he confirm it, he admitted responsibility -- which is great, but the issue I have with it now is that he's backpedaled, says he didn't mean it, and sometimes "sorry" doesn't cut it.

The thing about racism is that if the hateful beliefs aren't inside a person, they will never accidentally slip and speak them. Why and how could anti-Semitic language just mysteriously pop up from a person who does NOT dislike Jews? Where would that come from? The subconscious, that's the only answer; the anti-Semitic beliefs were always there, and now that I know that, it's just not something I want to associate myself with.

If he were not a celebrity, his opinions & beliefs wouldn't be on display. But since he is, they are. Certainly celebrities are entitled to their personal opinions just like everyone else, but every famous person knows BEFORE they get famous that they will be held to a certain standard in the public eye once they reach that status. Call it occupational hazard, but nobody with any sense should expect to reap the benefits of fame and international success without realizing it's been this way for all other celebrities, and it will be this way for them, too.

This thing with Mel Gibson - It's not as if a private conversation was overheard due to an invasion of privacy or paparazzi hiding in bushes. There's no way to justify hurling racial/ethnic and profane insults at policemen as "those are his personal opinions" when he is the one who acted a fool in public and forcibly put his private beliefs on display.

American citizens - which Mr. Gibson is not - do have the consitutionally guaranteed right to free speech. However, that doesn't mean a person can say whatever they want at any time in any situation without consequences. With the use of language comes responsibility, and while we can speak our opinions freely in this country, so can everyone else, so we have to use our words responsibly and accept the fact that other people are still free to take offense. SPEECH IS NOT PROTECTED IF IT COMES INTO DIRECT CONFLICT WITH ANOTHER PERSON'S RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM VERBAL ASSAULT AND BATTERY.

Malachy McCourt says in his book "A Monk Swimming" (a very funny memoir & a great read) after a series of strange interactions with an extremely paranoid guy, "The lesson learned then, and revisited over the years, was that all anti-semites, and bigots as a general class, are either sick or stupid." LOL - I love that quote! But seriously, while it isn't the right of individuals to judge others, we DO have a right --and a responsibility!--to decide (based on any information we have) whether or not we agree with people and whether we want to show support for them or not.

So, in answer to your question, it makes me sad because he is talented and I've enjoyed some of his movies in the past, but NO, I don't wish to ally myself with known anti-Semites, so I won't be supporting him by seeing his movies in the future.

Answer 2

YES I WILL! I will still watch Robert Downy Jr., I will also watch, Colin Ferrell! I think everyone in the entertainment business has or had a drug or alchohol problem. Or, at least has been drunk at least 1 time in their life! Don't you? Mel just got caught! Doesn't make it right! But, I don't watch movies for what people do in their personal lives!

Charlie Sheen is an idiot, and a nut, but he is still funny!

Answer 3

Absolutly I will. He did nothing more than express his right to free speech. The jews are not Gods gift to man, believe it or not. They have also made bad remarks about those different than them too. Yea Mel.

Answer 4

sure....its ironic that when a liberally biased hollywood star pulls some nonsense we aren't supposed to consider their personal life just their professional life...kinda of like with clinton, supposedly his personal life had nothing to do with his professional life...same with george clooney, micheal moore, etc. etc....will i watch a mel gibson movie absolutely, he's a good actor and a great producer/director.

Answer 5

Why are people so hung up on the personal lives of celebrities? They are paid to entertaing me. What they do on their own time is of no concern to me. Does his behaviour affect his ability to act? I imagine that there are many people who get drunk and say stupid things, but because they're not famous, it doesn't get much attention.

Answer 6

Allegedly made. At this point nothing has been confirmed.

You should wait for the facts to come out before passing judgment!

Answer 7

Sure.....I watch a movie because of the content, not because I like a certain actor and their beliefs.

Answer 8

If I see enough evidence to make me believe that he actually said them, it honestly might make me avoid his movies in the future. He SEEMS to be a hateful bastard.

Answer 9

Yep, if its one I want to see. His personal problems are not mine! Frankly, I don't care who he likes or dislikes. Its no reflection on me. People are entitled to their opinions. Acting on them, is a different story!

Answer 10

hes still a good actor but i dont think i will watch any movies that he producers.