Over the years actor Mel Gibson cultivated an almost oxymoronic reputation as a devilish ladies’ man on screen but a devoutly religious family man in his private life. Frankly, I never found him compelling in either role. And my cynicism was vindicated somewhat when he launched into an anti-Semitic rant four years ago after the police arrested him for driving under the influence. Here’s the now prescient observation I made on that occasion:
[W]hatever one thinks of his movies or erstwhile sex appeal, Gibson is clearly a man possessed of many demons. And frankly, alcoholism is the least of them.
(“Arrested development of Mel Gibson: once the sexiest man alive, now the craziest”, The iPINIONS Journal, July 31, 2006)
Well, now come secret recordings of him hurling a fusillade of utterly vile, racist, profane, and abusive insults at his girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, the mother of his baby daughter. And this prurient peep into Mel’s private life not only makes a mockery of his reputation but should put the nail in the coffin of his fledgling career.
Here are just a few excerpts that were transcribed and serialized by RadarOnline over the past few days. (I apologize if some readers find his language offensive even in this context):
Mel: You’re an embarrassment to me. You look like a fucking bitch in heat, and if you get raped by a pack of niggers, it will be your fault.” RadarOnline.com had heard the tape.
Oksana: You’re gonna answer one day, boy, you’re gonna answer… I’m not the one to threaten.
Mel: I’ll put you in a fuckin rose garden you cunt! You understand that? Because I’m capable of it. You understand that? (July 12)
Oksana: What kind of a man is that? Hitting a woman when she’s holding a child in her hands? Breaking her teeth twice in the face! What kind of man is that?
Mel: Oh, you’re all angry now! You know what, you fucking deserved it! (July 13)
Enough? Well, maybe just one more:
Mel: I will fire [the domestic servant] if she’s at your house. I will make it known and fire her. I’ll report her to the fucking people that take fucking money from the wetbacks, ok?”
Oksana: You made me moneyless. I used to have hundred thousand dollars a year when you met me. You took me, you possessed me. Everything I am you own me with my liver and my kidneys and my thoughts and my soul. Everything! My career, whatever it is. Pathetic career. Whatever it is, it’s yours. You control me like marionette. I don’t belong to myself, only to you. I can’t do anything and I walk on eggshells always with you!
Mel: That’s because you’re a fucking using whore! Now, I own you… “I gave you everything. Don’t you dare fucking complain to me! I don’t fuckin’ hear you! You don’t fucking count! You’re a fucking using whore!”
Mel: Go look after my child!
Oksana: She’s my child too.
Mel: Yeah I know, unfortunately you cunt whore! I hope she doesn’t turn out like you! (July 14)
The Los Angeles police are investigating Gibson on domestic violence allegations. Seems like a slam dunk to me. The only question is what punishment, and how much of a mitigating factor his notorious alcoholism and now rumored bipolar condition will prove to be.
Meanwhile, Oksana has taken out a restraining order against him and is suing for full custody of their baby daughter. That’s a wrap … on his acting career.
NOTE: In a shocking snub last week, Swiss authorities rejected an extradition request by the United Sates for critically acclaimed director Roman Polanski to be handed over to face justice for plying a 13-year-old with drugs and booze, and then raping her 31 years ago. More to the point, though, despite this black cloud hovering over his head all of these years, Polanski was still celebrated in Hollywood. In fact, many of its A-list movers and shakers wrote character references pleading with the Swiss court to set him free.
Therefore, Mel can derive some consolation from the fact that, even if nobody wants to see his psychotic mug on screen again, he could still be celebrated as a director – despite this black cloud, which is bound to hover over his head until the day he dies.
Related commentaries:
Arrested development of Mel Gibson
Cold justice for Roman Polanski
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