Gibson speaks

I’ve never treated anyone badly or in a discriminatory way based on their gender, race, religion or sexuality -- period. I don’t blame some people for thinking that though, from the garbage they heard on those leaked tapes, which have been edited. You have to put it all in the proper context of being in an irrationally, heated discussion at the height of a breakdown, trying to get out of a really unhealthy relationship. It’s one terribly, awful moment in time, said to one person, in the span of one day and doesn’t represent what I truly believe or how I’ve treated people my entire life.

I'm still trying to formulate an opinion on all of this, but here's what I've got so far: on the one hand, I do feel a certain amount of pity for Mel Gibson. He had no way of knowing that not only would his ex record their conversation, but that it would go public. And if this were an isolated incident, I might consider giving him the benefit of the doubt when he says that the things he said did not reflect how he really feels. But this is hardly an isolated incident, is it?

Still, I'm certainly not gonna sit in judgment over Gibson. Does he make me feel uncomfortable? Of course. Right now I'm not sure if I could be in the same room with him for long. The man clearly has issues that he's still in the process of working out, however, and I believe him when he says he could walk away from acting. What does acting matter to him now when he's got a family to look after?

As for The Beaver, the more I think about it the more I keep returning to Jodie Foster. She's stood by Gibson throughout this whole ordeal, which is remarkable in itself. But also, given her recent comments about how difficult it truly is to be a woman director in Hollywood, I feel more certain that she, not Gibson, is the reason I will see the movie.

So what do you make of Gibson's interview?