MOVIE NEWS – Mel Gibson has apologized after a video from Fan Expo Canada led to accusations that he mocked an ASL interpreter. The actor-director said there was no malice behind the gesture, while acknowledging that it upset many viewers.

 
Mel Gibson is once again at the center of an online controversy, this time because of gestures made on stage at Fan Expo Canada in Toronto. He appeared at the weekend event for a career Q&A, but a short clip spread rapidly online after viewers interpreted his movements as an imitation of the American Sign Language interpreter working behind him.

The footage triggered a strong backlash, with criticism aimed at both Gibson and the event’s organizers. Several commentators argued that the gesture was especially disrespectful to deaf and hard-of-hearing attendees, prompting calls for a public apology from the star.

Gibson said in a statement that he had not intended any malice and apologized to anyone who was upset by the incident. He described the moment as spontaneous, thoughtless idiocy, explaining that being pushed into the spotlight can sometimes leave his mind scattered.

The story gained traction particularly quickly because the seventy-year-old actor and filmmaker has faced several public controversies in the past. His apology may not end the debate immediately, as social media users continue to argue over whether his explanation adequately addresses what happened on stage.

Source: MovieWeb