Mel Gibson apologized on Monday after being criticized for mocking an American Sign Language interpreter over the weekend at Fan Expo Canada, in an episode he described as “thoughtless idiocy.”
“Sometimes when you get pushed out on a stage in a spotlight your mind is all over the place,” he said in a statement to The New York Times.
Gibson, 70, said there had not been “intended maliciousness” behind his behavior, adding, “I certainly apologize to anyone who was upset by it.”
A two-time Oscar winner, Gibson was one of dozens of stars who appeared at the fan event held from Aug. 26 to 29 at the Metro Toronto Convention Center. Organizers billed the event as a “playground” for anyone interested in comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, gaming and cosplay.
Gibson was there on Saturday for a Q&A segment discussing his career, including his roles in “Mad Max” and “Braveheart.” According to Fan Expo’s website, Gibson sold autographed 8 by 10 headshots and held photo ops for $275.
As he walked onstage to cheers from the crowd, Gibson made several quick and apparently meaningless hand gestures behind the back of an interpreter, who stood facing the audience.
Video of the episode circulated widely online, and many people quickly criticized the actor’s behavior.
Representatives for Fan Expo Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday, including about whether Gibson had contacted the interpreter.
More than 300 sign languages are in use across the globe, though, according to the National Association of the Deaf, people in Canada and the United States who are deaf or hard of hearing most commonly use American Sign Language. ASL, as the language is known, allows people to communicate through hand movements and shapes, as well as other signals like facial expressions.
Gibson’s statement was not the first time that he has issued a public apology. In 2006, after he was stopped by the police for driving 85 miles per hour on the Pacific Coast Highway, a belligerent Gibson made antisemitic comments. He pleaded no contest to driving under the influence and apologized at least twice, calling his remarks “despicable.”
In recent years, Gibson’s links to politics have garnered more attention than his acting. Last year, President Trump named him, Sylvester Stallone and Jon Voight as his “eyes and ears” in Hollywood. According to the president, the “ambassadorship” was meant to help increase the number of films that are made in the United States, after years when a lot of moviemaking moved to other countries.
A few months later, Gibson again drew attention when the Justice Department restored his gun rights, despite a criminal conviction after pleading no contest in 2011 to a battery charge involving his former girlfriend.
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