Mel Gibson Attempts A Hollywood Rehabilitation

Mel Gibson appeared on Jimmy Kimmel's post-Oscar show that re-aired this past Friday night. "The Passion of the Christ" is out on DVD, Gibson is approaching three years out from his DUI arrest and he's trying to rehab his image, goatee and all.

Today Roger Friedman wrote about the image overhaul:

The main purpose of Gibson's appearance was, I guess, for rehabilitation. Kimmel stayed away from Gibson's famous 2006 Malibu arrest for as long as he could, then threw it into the conversation as a joke. Yes, it seems so funny now looking back at it that Gibson ranted anti-Semitic comments to the cop who arrested him for drunk driving!

Kimmel then -- this is all scripted -- led Gibson into a quick discussion of whether he also called a female police officer "sugar tits." Gibson denied saying it, the two laughed about it, and then Gibson said he'd wished he'd actually coined the phrase. "I wish I could copyright it," Gibson said, "I wish I had said it," Gibson observed. Kimmel agreed. It was a great phrase!

Read Friedman's whole take, read TMZ's excerpt of the July 2006 police report, or watch Gibson's appearance for yourself and leave your opinion in the comments section below.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Comments

[afgail]

Mel cossed his rubicon. Alcohol only served to loosen his tongue to express his true feelings. And out popped Nazi invective. There is no redemption for a dyed-in-the-wool anti-semite.

[chayefsky]

Jeez, I thought it was Colonel Sanders in his younger days.

[Aesthete]

I know that what Mr. Gibson said three years ago while being arrested for DUI was most unfortunate. However, I am a black woman and I'd be a total wreck if I remained bitter and unforgiving toward every white person who ever made a disparaging remark about blacks. In fact, I almost feel sorry for such miserable, unhappy souls. I'm also a Christian and was taught the concepts of forgiveness, compassion, and redemption. I sincerely hope that Mr. Gibson has been able to redeem himself personally, whether or not he ever makes another film.

[greendream]

He looks like a Civil War reenactor.

[Truby]

He is an actor, not a philosopher. He said things that he probably regrets but who in this world hasn't, it is just that most of are not famous and so who would care what we said?

[James Martenet]

Thank you for your words of truth. I hear all these remarks about a guy who said some stupid things. We do not know all the facts, or what was going on in the mans mind/heart at the time. However one views it, the fact is unless you have walked in someone's else's shoes, we will never know what was going on. I know I have said things I later regretted, I have screwed up a relationship with someone I love dearly, all because I let my heart speak for me, without restraint, and what I said was misinterpreted, but because of my choice of words and timing, it sounded like I was saying something else. If I had stopped to think instead of letting my passion rule my mouth, I bet she and I would be together now. I am not anti-semite, Jewish folks are human, and can be a big PITA, just like the rest of us. I am fairly neutral on most things because people lie, not for any good reason, but just to make themselves feel " well, I am a jerk, but not as bad as him..." Personally, I think Mell Gibson is cool, and if I ever meet him, then I will know what is on his mind and WHY he feels whatever way he does, and I will reserve the right to disagree, or agree, and just let it go. My god, people, get a life already.

[sababa]

That doesn't even look like him!

[trudem2]

What you see on Mel is "age".....­. you'll get to meet it too if you're lucky.

[exhale09]

I'm sorry.... Mel Gibson broke my heart, when he ended my romantic fantasies that he was the perfect man and I will never be able to look at him and feel all tingly again.
He spent his movie career cultivating his image and I thought he was the most sexy man alive.

I thought his movie "The Passion" was an awful self indulgent excercise in displaying some dark place in Gibson's inner mind, along with his words and behavior..­... forever ended my deluded impression that he was a sweet and funny, protective and respectful of women, gentleman.

Now he is just another actor to me. Sigh.

Sorry.... I'm 62. What can I say. :0)

[Aesthete]

I attended "The Passion" knowing full well that it was not intended as "entertain­ment." However, it was definitely an "experienc­e."

[stagebandman]

Roger Friedman needs to get a life. The arrest was in 2006. I realize that what he said at the time was insanely stu-pid, but he was inebriated. Many said that when impaired, you say what you really feel, but the opposite may also be the case, and I can only hope that is what happened here. We cannot know what Mel's true feelings are, and have only his word to go on. The Judeo-Christian way is forgiveness and tolerance. Maybe some people need to remember that. Seems like O.J.'s getting better press than Mr. Gibson. He has atoned and apologized. I accept it, why can't you?

[daedelus]

Is that you, Mel?

[stagebandman]

I'm just trying to be fair, and look at things from other views. With all the strife and hardship the last administration has put on us, is Mel Gibson's banishment really an issue right now?

[afgail]

And all those Jews in Hollywood who helped Gibson become a star decided to cut him loose. No surprise there. No withholding of forgiveness just indifference. There are lots and lots of good looking actors in Hollywood and nobody needs Mel Gibson. He committed professional suicide. If he really wants redemption he should fund the Elie Weizel Foundation that Madoff looted. Might cause some closed doors to grudgingly open.

[James Martenet]

Amen. I think all the Mell bashers are that way because they are jealous. I detest that thing in humans that makes them cry out with glee when a person falls from grace, you know, often times the fall, if you wanna call it that, is in the minds of those that WANT the person to fail. As a musician and amateur actor, I can testify to being shot down at the slightest mistake, and it is always by people that have not done anything positive with their own lives, they actively look for faults in people who have worked hard to overcome obstacles and did what they set out to do. Mell is loved by many people, I won't hold it against him if they do, heck, in a guy way, I love him too. So why treat him like Anne Boleyn?

[Goliadkin]

Let's put it this way: If Mel Gibson said what's really on his mind here, his comments would be deleted.

[JeanMerilynSimmons]

Is he trying to look like Vincent Price?

[AmericaninIndia]

Lighten up, everyone. I'm not sure why so many obsess over this. Yes, what he said was unacceptable, but the judgment and sentence have passed, and it's time to move on.

As long as he's not publishing Nazi propaganda in his basement and hosting a talk show to advocate the forced migration of Jews to Poland, I really don't care what his personal viewpoints are.

Why? Because he's an artist who happens to have a few unacceptable opinions, but I'll judge him on the art. Before everyone pounces on me, let me ask you: Do you really claim to know the personal opinions of many of the celebrities, producers, directors and others in Hollywood? Do you really care?

What about famous writers and painters of the past who beat their wives, held crazy viewpoints or subscribed to wacky political trends? Do we dispose of their writings, thoughts and creative works because their personal lives were messed up?

The point is, I don't see the merit in these prolonged self-righteous witch hunts against people because of their opinions, no matter how repulsive. If our dialog becomes so cleansed, then are people really speaking their minds? I don't think so.

And if we can't speak out minds (no matter how crazy), then haven't we lost the whole Socratic-Platonic Greek tradition of dialog and the marketplace of ideas?

Just my 2 cents...

[afgail]

As long as they keep their toxic thoughts to themselves, I could care less. But Gibson didn't and therefore I do care. Simple as that. Just saying your sorry is not enough. Way too easy. He needs to prove he is reformed. No reformation = no redemption.

[smilodon1]

Get rid of the mustache and the "goaty."

[NYC]

I've said a lot of angry uncalled for things when I've found myself in an arguement after a few drinks, but I've never said anything racist.

[ignorantwillyharper]

Seems like a nice enough guy. We've all done things we're not proud of, but most of us are not the target of the camera. He's very talented, both in front and behind the camera. I wish him well.

[JDOK]

Sorry Mel but they will never forgive you.......­.