How Mel Gibson Almost Became a Hollywood Persona Non Grata
Hollywood has its scandalous stars, but few can top Mel Gibson.
The public and journalists disliked Mel Gibson for a long time – in the early 2000s he became perhaps the most controversial Hollywood star. The actor was involved in a record number of scandals, as if he was trying to outdo himself.
The first scandal happened because of drunk driving. Mel Gibson lost his driver's license for the first time in 1984 for driving while intoxicated, and was also fined $400.
According to the actor, alcoholism almost drove him to suicide.
In 1992, according to actress Winona Ryder, Gibson spoke harshly about a representative of the LGBT community and also made a sharp anti-Semitic statement, which caused another wave of discontent among people.
In 2006, Mel was arrested by the police for speeding and driving under the influence (again). The actor also had an open bottle of alcohol in his car. Gibson threatened and insulted the police officers while they were filing a report.
Unfortunately, this time the actor also made some xenophobic remarks, only to be hit with a wave of criticism. A lot of accusations were made against Gibson, not only from the public, but also from his colleagues.
After a high-profile scandal, Gibson stopped acting for four years, but already in 2010 he returned, playing in the movie Edge of Darkness.
Another scandal involves Mel's ex-girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva. Mel Gibson made offensive remarks about her, and in 2010, after break up, Grigorieva filed a lawsuit against the actor, saying that Gibson had beaten her.
The court forbade Mel to approach his ex-girlfriend and her daughter. A year later, Gibson was sentenced to three years of probation and a heavy fine. Grigorieva also demanded compensation from Mel Gibson for the moral damage.
In 2016, the Gibson-directed military drama Hacksaw Ridge premiered. The movie won several awards and received amazing reviews from critics and viewers.
Still, Andrew Garfield, who starred in the movie, admitted that at first he was afraid to work with Mel Gibson.
The actor noted that many warned him against working with Gibson, but after a personal meeting, he changed his mind, and such a decision eventually earned him an Oscar nomination.
Today the public largely believes that Mel went through a difficult period in his life. Gibson has come to terms with it and realized many, if not all, of his mistakes.
The problems are left behind and now the actor and director has a chance to prove that he can do better.