Mel Gibson Apologizes After Mocking ASL Interpreter at Fan Expo Canada

Mel Gibson is facing criticism after appearing to mock an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter while walking onto a stage at Fan Expo Canada over the weekend.

The 70-year-old actor and director waved to the crowd as he entered the panel. He then appeared to imitate the hand movements of the interpreter working nearby before pointing toward the audience.

A video of the moment quickly spread online, prompting strong reactions from social media users. Some accused Gibson of making fun of the interpreter, who was simply doing her job.

“This choice is bonkers to me,” one person wrote on social media. “Interpreter just doing their job, people clapping for you, positive vibes. Mel Gibson: makes fun of ASL interpreter for no reason at all.”

Others called the actor “despicable” and “gross,” while some defended the moment and described Gibson as an “elite troll.”

Gibson later apologized for his behavior in a statement to Page Six.

“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,” he said.

“There was no intended maliciousness attached, and I certainly apologize to anyone who was upset by it,” he added.

The controversy comes amid Gibson’s long history of public scandals and offensive remarks.

In 2006, Gibson was arrested for drunk driving and made anti-Semitic comments during the incident. He later apologized, saying he was struggling with alcoholism and deeply regretted what he called a “horrific relapse.”

In 2010, a recording surfaced of Gibson making a racist remark during an argument with his then-girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva. Gibson said the recording had been edited and described the incident as part of an extremely heated and unhealthy relationship.

Actress Winona Ryder also accused Gibson of making anti-Semitic and homophobic comments during a party. Ryder later repeated the allegations in 2020, while Gibson’s representative denied them and accused her of lying.

The controversies have affected Gibson’s reputation in Hollywood over the years. In 2008, a source told Page Six that the actor had become a “pariah” in the industry.

Despite the backlash, Gibson has continued working in Hollywood. He is currently directing a sequel to his 2004 film The Passion of the Christ. The project has been filming in Rome with a new cast.

The latest incident has once again put Gibson’s behavior under public scrutiny, while his apology has done little to stop the debate surrounding the actor’s long history of controversial conduct.