Mel Gibson’s interview ended awkwardly after being asked a question about Will Smith.
The actor-director was discussing his new movie, Father Stu, when the conversation turned to the incident in which Smith slapped Chris Rock during the 2022 Academy Awards on Sunday, March 27th.
Fox News host Jesse Watters commented: “You probably understand it better than a lot of people with your career. I was wondering if you would have jumped out of your seat and punched Chris Rock in the face if you had been treated the same way Mel.”
Gibson can be seen smiling and pointing at the camera. It was obvious that he wanted to avoid media hype. His publicist’s voice is heard: “Hey Jesse, thanks, our time is up.”
Watters tries again and asks, “Have you ever thought of that?” However, Gibson’s publicist reiterated, “Thank you, Jesse. Uh, our time is up.”
In one of the most talked-about moments in Oscars history, Smith hit Rock onstage after the comedian made a joke about his wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith. The incident came after Rock made a joke about Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. She has been open about her alopecia diagnosis in the past.
Smith won Best Actor for King Richard at the arrivals ceremony and received a standing ovation from many celebrities in the crowd.
Mel Gibson’s publicist waded into the interview when asked about Will Smith
(Fox News)
The actor resigned as a member of the academy after criticism but also faces disciplinary action.
He also offered Rock an apology, with the comedian commenting during his first stand-up show since the incident on Wednesday March 30 that he was “still processing” what happened.
In 2006, Gibson was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Malibu and making anti-Semitic comments to a police officer, for which he later apologized, saying the comments were “made in a moment of insanity.”
According to a police report, Gibson asked the officer if he was Jewish and exclaimed, “Fucking Jews. The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world.”
The actor was briefly blacklisted in Hollywood, but in 2017 he was nominated for best director for Hacksaw Ridge, starring Andrew Garfield.