Mel Gibson is facing criticism after appearing to mock a deaf American Sign Language interpreter during a public appearance.
The 70-year-old actor sparked outrage after a video showed him making exaggerated hand gestures at Fan Expo Canada in Toronto on Saturday.
The moment, captured in a video that later circulated online, shows Gibson stepping onto the stage after being introduced by moderator Liam Crowley.
As the Braveheart actor walked out in front of a full crowd, he appeared to make exaggerated hand movements behind a woman who was providing sign language interpretation on stage.
The clip quickly drew backlash on social media, with one X user writing: “Always disappointing to see my language mocked. We work hard to get our language recognized and be taken seriously.”
Gibson issued an apology in a statement shared with Our News Outlet on Monday, saying: “Sometimes when you get pushed out on a stage in a spotlight your mind is all over the place, and sometimes spontaneous thoughtless idiocy is displayed – there was no intended maliciousness attached, and I certainly apologize to anyone who was upset by it.”
Mel Gibson has drawn backlash for appearing to mock a deaf American Sign Language interpreter at Fan Expo Canada on Saturday
The Braveheart star, 70, was seen making the exaggerated gesture as he entered the stage
Social media users criticized Gibson after video of the Toronto appearance began spreading online
Gibson recently wrapped production for his The Passion of the Christ sequel, The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One.
The Lionsgate movie is scheduled to be released in May 2027 and a follow-up is expected in 2028.
Social media users have noted how Gibson’s actions contrasted with those of Reacher star Alan Ritchson, who acknowledged the interpreter by shaking hands before leaving the stage.
One comment on X continued about Gibson: ‘On point for him. Such a disappointment he turned out to be.’
Another said: ‘I don’t even know why he was invited to Fan Expo when he has a history of this behavior.’
Elsewhere in the original thread, critics labeled Gibson ‘despicable’ and ‘a gross human being.’
Gibson recently wrapped production for his The Passion of the Christ sequel, The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One. Fans noted his past controversies leading up to Saturday’s event
Gibson is no stranger to controversy, having hit headlines for a string of scandals over the years.
The actor faced significant backlash after a recorded anti-semitic tirade during a 2006 arrest in Malibu.
According to the police report of the incident, Gibson said to the officers: ‘F***ing Jews. The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world. Are you a Jew?’
James Mee, the arresting sheriff’s deputy, was Jewish.
It was also noted in the police report that at one point Gibson noticed a female officer and shouted at her: ‘What do you think you’re looking at, sugar t**s?’
In his apology letter to the Anti-Defamation League, he wrote: ‘There is no excuse, nor should there be any tolerance, for anyone who thinks or expresses any kind of Anti-Semitic remark.
‘I want to apologize specifically to everyone in the Jewish community for the vitriolic and harmful words that I said to a law enforcement officer the night I was arrested on a DUI charge.’
He had previously said in a statement that he was ‘taking the necessary steps’ against his battle with alcohol abuse.
In 2010, during a recorded phone call between Gibson and then-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, the actor could be heard using the N-word, and telling Oksana that if she were to be ‘raped’ it would be her fault. The following year, he pleaded no contest to battering his former girlfriend.
And in 2015, an Australian photographer alleged that Gibson shoved and verbally abused her in Sydney. The actor vehemently denied the allegations. Police later dropped the investigation without filing formal charges after a review.
