Mel Gibson is facing criticism on social media for appearing to mock an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter during his entrance to a panel at Fan Expo Canada over the weekend.
Video footage circulated online showing the 70-year-old actor waving at attendees as he walked onto the stage. Gibson then appeared to mimic the interpreter's signing gestures before pointing to the crowd. The clip has since drawn widespread condemnation online, with many users labeling his actions as "despicable" and "gross."
In a statement to Page Six, Gibson addressed the incident, saying, "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." He added, "There was no intended maliciousness attached, and I certainly apologize to anyone who was upset by it."
The actor has a history of controversial remarks. In 2006, he made anti-Semitic statements during a drunk driving arrest, for which he later apologized, stating he was "truly sorry" and attributing it to an "out of control" moment and a relapse in his battle with alcoholism.
In 2010, a recording surfaced in which Gibson made a racist remark to his then-girlfriend. He claimed the audio was edited and that the comment was made during a "heated discussion at the height of a breakdown." Later that same year, actress Winona Ryder alleged that Gibson made homophobic and anti-Semitic remarks to her and a friend at a party, which Gibson's representative denied at the time, stating Ryder was "lying."
Amid these past controversies, Gibson's standing in the film industry has reportedly declined, with a source telling Page Six in 2008 that he had become a "pariah."