Mel Gibson draws criticism after mocking ASL interpreter at Fan Expo Canada

At a recent Fan Expo Canada panel, Mel Gibson entered the stage, waved to the crowd and then mimicked the gestures of an American Sign Language interpreter before pointing at attendees. The video went viral, sparking criticism on social media that labeled the gesture as disrespectful and unnecessary. Gibson responded in a statement, describing his actions as “spontaneous thoughtless idiocy” without malicious intent and offering an apology to those offended.

The backlash revives discussion of Gibson’s history of controversial comments, including past homophobic, sexist, racist and anti-Semitic remarks. He has previously apologized for similar incidents, citing personal struggles such as alcoholism. Gibson is currently directing a sequel to his 2004 film, which is being shot in Rome with a new cast.