Mel Gibson: I've never discriminated against anyone

Mel Gibson has said that he has ‘never discriminated against anyone’, while speaking frankly about his now infamous anti-semitic outburst at a policeman in 2006.

Gibson, who is on the comeback trail with his new movie ‘Hacksaw Ridge’, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, and was recording spouting the abuse.

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“The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world!” he was recorded as saying on his arrest report, the first in a number of incidents in a widely publicised meltdown, which also involved using racially abusive language to his ex-wife.

“It was an unfortunate incident,” he told Variety’s ‘Playback’ podcast.

“I was loaded and angry and arrested. I was recorded illegally by an unscrupulous police officer who was never prosecuted for that crime.

“And then it was made public by him for profit, and by members of – we’ll call it the press. So, not fair. I guess as who I am, I’m not allowed to have a nervous breakdown, ever.”

He said that as he apologised for the incident, people should now move on from it.

“Ten years have gone by. I’m feeling good. I’m sober, all of that kind of stuff, and for me it’s a dim thing in the past,” he said.

“But others bring it up, which kind of I find annoying, because I don’t understand why after 10 years it’s any kind of issue.

“Surely if I was really what they say I was, some kind of hater, there’d be evidence of actions somewhere. There never has been.

“I’ve never discriminated against anyone or done anything that sort of supports that reputation.

“And for one episode in the back of a police car on eight double tequilas to sort of dictate all the work, life’s work and beliefs and everything else that I have and maintain for my life is really unfair.”

Gibson’s latest film, the war movie ‘Hacksaw Ridge’, received rave reviews on its premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September.

Starring Andrew Garfield and Vince Vaughn, it tells the true story of US army medic Desmond T. Doss, who, although a conscientious objector, served in World War II while refusing to bear arms.

He was awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery in the Battle of Okinawa.