Yesterday, CB wrote about Mel Gibson’s hissy fit with a Chicago reporter live on television. After a testy interview, Gibson signed off with a curt “Bye… a**hole.” As CB said, Mel came across as entirely “defensive and arrogant”. But now Mel wants us to know that when dropped the “a–hole bomb” he wasn’t actually speaking or referring to the Chicago journalist. He was talking to publicist. Umm… sure. Whatever. Mel also said, on a French tv show after the incident, “I have a short fuse. I’m trying to work on it.”
Mel Gibson isn’t denying that he muttered “a**hole” under his breath during a testy interview with Chicago entertainment reporter Dean Richards — but his vulgar outburst wasn’t directed at Richards.
On Wednesday, Gibson, 54, sent a text message to journalist Sam Rubin of KTLA, explaining that the “*a**hole” in question was his publicist. During the TV interview, the actor’s rep was “making faces” at him off-camera. The Edge of Darkness star didn’t realize he was still on camera when he tossed off the insult to his colleague.
During a Wednesday appearance on French TV show Le Grand Journal, Gibson smiled when a reporter asked if he came prepared with “French curse words for French journalists.”
“No,” he replied jovially. “It usually comes out in English if I’m angry. I have a short fuse. I’m trying to work on it.”
During his talked-about Friday appearance on WGN-TV, Gibson seemed to get annoyed when Richards asked if the public might perceive him differently “after all that’s been in the news,” referring to Gibson’s drunken anti-semitic rant during a 2006 DUI bust.
“That’s almost four years ago, dude,” Gibson snapped at the time. “I’ve done all the necessary mea culpas. Let’s move on.”
[From Us Weekly]
“I have a short fuse” might be the understatement of the year. If I was Mel and people wouldn’t shut up about all of my crap, I would have just had fun with it. Something like, “Yeah, I called that guy an a–hole. He was an a–hole. Correction: He was a motherf-cking a–hole. I have a short fuse, Sugart-ts. Any more questions, or are you Jewish?”
By the way, is Mel wearing the same shirt at this Paris photocall that he was wearing for his mugshot?
Here’s Mel at the French photocall for ‘The Edge of Darkness’ on February 4, 2010. Credit: WENN.
It’s okay Mel. Anyone that keeps bringing up the past of four years ago in such a way as to try and make you look bad is an a-hole. This guy takes top honors in the a-hole category. He deserved it. Time to move on.
Very funny K!
Haha – I’m starting to like Mel Gibson. He’s a loose cannon. We need more of them.
Mel is, what, 5’7″? Short man, short fuse, small hands, small feet, short weeny.
Man are his ears getting big…he’s gonna look like Dumbo when he’s 60.
He’s bipolar and obsessive compulsive . Most people that messed up collect ssi . Give him a freaking break . I don’t think he knows what he’s saying half the time . When someone is on a manic upswing they have twisted logic . Add alcohol ….. Sugar tits and Jew bashing .. Feel sorry for the guy .
Seriously, he’s just an a-hole. I don’t think he’s bi-polar or anything like that. Has he ever said that? All he’s said is that he has a short fuse. Which is clear.
I believe he said he thought he was bi-polar. But I’ve known bi-polar people, as I’m sure many people have, and although there’s often erratic behavior and outbursts, nothing comes out of their mouths that isn’t already in their head. Same with drinking. The person’s specifics doesn’t change, the degree of reaction in a given context does.
sage advice, he was diagnosed years ago with bipolar and has been one medication for it.
Mel needs to hire some new PR people, because the more he says and the more they spin the worse things get. Why bother to issue a statement with this lame explanation in the first place? Just move on dude. Mel and his PR people need to realize that, right or wrong, everything he says and does is going to be put under a microscope and he needs to accept this or go back into hiding. It didn’t used to be like this in the earlier days of Mel’s career. He’s brought all of this upon himself because of his abhorent behavior.
HA! You guys are KILLING me!
So because he’s bi-polar, NOW he gets a free pass? It couldn’t be because he’s back on the sauce or was never regretful over the comment that got him here in the first place, and is turning into a bitter, crotchety old man?
This has turned into that “Family Guy” episode when the father, Peter, was found to be developmentally handicapped, so he just did what he wanted and blamed it on the condition, including kicking in the door on the women’s bathroom stalls.
He needs to up his meds and down his public appearances.
It’s time for Oprah’s couch!
Mel Gibson really should make a list of the issues that have been giving him the most trouble with the public and address them in a polite, calm and thoughtful manner on Oprah’s show. He does not have to discuss the intimate details of his personal life out of respect for his wife and their children. He should to leave Oksana at home because her presence during the taping may invite unwanted inquiries.
The interview should only focus on him as a person and his career accomplishments as well as what he plans to accomplish in the future. If he can pull this off without a “meltdown”, then he might stand a chance!
I live in Chicago and saw this and was quite shocked. Dean Richards is AWESOME! And I think his question was refering not only to the DUI (4 years ago dude) but also to his recent love life perhaps and having a child with his mistress or whatever you’d like to call his gold-digger gf.
It didn’t appear that he was calling someone else the a-hole. Mel got mad at the questions about his past and from that point on was extremely defensive and kept saying “dude”. I’m sorry but when did Mel turn into a teanage surfer, dude?
nice one mel!
This guy is just scary. Male version of Naomi?
ITT: Craggy-faced cranky old fart. ;-P
Interpertation: I have a short fuse b/c I’m a drunk who never got sober and found peace.
In Australia we’re lovin’ it. It’s all over the radio and TV, everyone loves him even more than they already did.
Good on him, he says it how it is.
There’s no need for him to appologise for anything. Everything the guy has ever said, is TRUE and CORRECT!
Suck it up Sugar-tits!!!
“I would have just had fun with it. Something like, “Yeah, I called that guy an a–hole. He was an a–hole. Correction: He was a motherf-cking a–hole. I have a short fuse, Sugart-ts. Any more questions, or are you Jewish?””
Cracked me the hell up.
@ Sigh, I am not personally offended by Mel getting drunk and spouting off with his mouth about Jewish people.
Am I supposed to be? Is there a law I have to be?
I’m Irish/Scot, I don’t give a damn. I like him, he’s human and he has spunk. And I like drunk Irish jokes too (smiles). I don’t get all fussy about it just because I’m a Celt.
Um, bi-polar does not equal asshole. Manic yes, but manic doesn’t mean asshole either. Mel’s an asshole. Period. Let’s stop with the excuses already.
Maybe Mel is right and that reporter REALLY IS AN ASSH*OLE. You go Mel Mel Gippy Gip!
Mel, Mel, Mel…………MEL
Yeah right thousand believe you.
Your DUI is always gonna be there, Just because you got the records expunged or what ever Suck It Up Pal.
Your behavior these last few years has been strange to say the least.
So get some new PR people in and for Gods sake Man actually THINK ABOUT WHAT YOUR GONNA SAY FOR ONCE. Before opening your Mouth.
The fact that you said you don’t think you have changed over the years.
So I take it we are still having a few ones on the side than as well as smoking in the toilet.
Get used to it The Damage you have done is always going to be brought up in Interviews and you know that.
In Mel’s case, game recognizes game.
uzi…i agree…he needs better pr guys…or perhaps he is hard to handle.. i wish mel would buy some different shirts, what is with the checked shirts all the time, reminds me of the monk character…you would think with this being his first movie in so long, that a little restraint would be nice, but you can see nothing has changed…mel needs to work on himself..as evidence by his life in the past year…again this is who he is…not what we thought he was..
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