Mel Gibson is readying for his comeback, with the news that he’s signed on for his first major role in several years, in a Warner Bros film Edge of Darkness. He’s appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live following the Oscars, and reminding people that he’s won a few awards in his time. Gibson has two Academy Awards, one for best actor, and another for best director. He wants people to just forget about his drunkenanti-Semitic rant.

Unfortunately, Mel’s sensitivity chip still isn’t working. He is quoted as saying that he told firefighters to make sure they saved his Oscars when fire encroached his estate:

Mel Gibson begged firefighters to save his two Oscars when a wildfire threatened to torch his California home.

The actor lives in sun-kissed Malibu, a dry area regularly affected by blazes.

And when one particular fire came close to his sprawling estate, Gibson’s first concern was the statuettes he won for Braveheart.

He says, “When the house was threatened by fire in the canyon, I told the firemen, ‘Don’t let the boys burn.’ They thought I meant my kids.”

Contact Music

Contact Music doesn’t say who Mel made the comments to, but this statement appears to be timed to match his post-Oscars appearance on Jimmy Kimmel. I can’t help but feel that the comment is badly timed. It could have been a cute, funny story but Mel made the comment on the Australian national day of mourning for the 200+ (final numbers aren’t in yet) people killed in bushfires on 7th February. The fires made international headlines, and there has been a lot of grief for the people who lost everything. We all have something similar to an Oscar that we’re proud of – our university diplomas, work awards, sports trophy – and these weren’t the things that people were saving. They were trying to save their human and animal family members, photographs and insurance papers. Perhaps a well timed sentiment for the Oscars Mel, but maybe a little compassion for your fellow Australians* would have been nice.

Also Mel, the devil’s haircut facial hair isn’t working for you at all, which is saying something from a woman who actually likes Joaquin Phoenix’s new look.

*Yes, Mel was born in the US, and resides there now, but he was raised and educated in Australia, and became famous through local film productions Mad Max and Gallipoli. Some of his children were born here, and his wife is Australian too, he has a strong connection to the country.

photos via Seriously? OMG! WTF?