17/01/2023
The Jewish Chronicle newspaper reports that actor Mel Gibson, a Catholic conservative with strong opinions about most of society, has been dropped from a planned role as a “grand marshal” in the New Orelans Mardi Gras parade, after numerous groups united in condemning his appointment. Mr Gibson made homophobic remarks in 1991, and was called to apologise by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. For a period of time, he refused to do this, but in 1999 appeared to recant, telling reporters, “" shouldn't have said it, but I was tickling a bit of vodka during that interview, and the quote came back to bite me on the ass”. Mr Gibson has however, courted controversy numerous times for remarks made about Jewish people, some of which he apologised for. Wikipedia notes that “Gibson's controversial statements resulted in his being blacklisted in Hollywood for almost a decade. Both Robert Downey Jr. and journalist Allison Hope Weineradvocated for forgiveness for Gibson in 2014. In 2016, Gibson's film Hacksaw Ridge, which received six Academy Award nominations, resulted in what was perceived as a "thaw" in his reputation”. Activist groups who lobbied for Mr Gibson to be dropped as the Mardi Gras Grand Marshal included The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, and the Greater New Orleans Rabbinic Council, who said “Given his history of fueling antisemitism and other forms of hate, we find his choice as Grand Marshal of Endymion was completely insulting and shortsighted,” adding that they “hope the Endymion leadership will take the opportunity to learn why the selection of Mel Gibson caused such pain and disappointment to the Jewish community as well as the marginalised communities he has harmed in the past.”
