Mel Gibson DUI incident

During an arrest for driving under the influence (see below), Gibson allegedly made anti-Semitic remarks to the arresting officers. Gibson allegedly asked the officer if he was Jewish and stated, "Fucking Jews...the Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world." The Los Angeles Times and The New York Times reported that unnamed sources confirmed the leaked arrest reports as authentic.

On July 28, 2006, Gibson was charged with driving under the influence while speeding (87 miles per hour in a 45 miles per hour zone) on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California. His bail was set at $5,000 and he was released.

Subsequent to his release a 4-page portion of an allegedly redacted or suppressed police report was leaked to entertainment website TMZ.com. The report is purported to be part of an original from the officer involved, Deputy James Mee, prior to superiors instructing Mee to remove anti-Semitic comments and a barrage of abuse aimed at Deputy Mee and other officers. The police report also alleges Gibson refused to be transported to the police station, and had to be restrained. Gibson's tirade allegedly continued at the police station, where he was videotaped asking a female officer, "What are you looking at, sugar tits?" and possibly attempting to urinate on the floor.

A day after TMZ's report, the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times reported that unnamed sources confirmed to them independently that the leaked documents were authentic. This has neither been denied nor admitted by the Sheriff Department, who have nonetheless asserted no cover up has taken place. Associated Press later reported that an official police report contained Gibson's alleged comments. The report is also posted online at Slate.com

TMZ later alleged that Gibson has been stopped twice before in Malibu for drunk driving but was released without a citation. While the legal blood alcohol level limit for driving in the state is 0.08%, Gibson's blood alcohol content was measured at 0.12%. See also: Effects of alcohol on the body and Blood alcohol concentration.

Gibson issued a contrite statement on July 29, 2006, indicating that he was pursuing treatment for his alcoholism and apologizing broadly for his behavior and what he said. Supporters of Gibson blamed the alleged remarks on his intoxication, and critics, such as Christopher Hitchens, accused Gibson of anti-Semitism and others critized his apology for not specifically mentioning the alleged anti-Semitic statements.

Gibson issued a statement on July 29, 2006, indicating that he was pursuing treatment for his alcoholism and apologizing for unspecified behavior:

"After drinking alcohol on Thursday night, I did a number of things that were very wrong and for which I am ashamed. I drove a car when I should not have, and was stopped by the L.A. County sheriffs. The arresting officer was just doing his job and I feel fortunate that I was apprehended before I caused injury to any other person. I acted like a person completely out of control when I was arrested, and said things that I do not believe to be true and which are despicable. I am deeply ashamed of everything I said and I apologize to anyone who I have offended....I have battled the disease of alcoholism for all of my adult life and profoundly regret my horrific relapse." Excerpted from complete statement.

In response, Abraham Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), one of The Passion's most vocal critics, stated that Gibson's apology was "unremorseful and insufficient" and that the ADL hoped "Hollywood now would realize the bigot in their midst." Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League (US), promptly attacked Foxman's statement, saying that Gibson had already apologized and that ADL's "real goal is to discredit The Passion Of The Christ." Jeff Berg, head of the talent agency that represented Gibson for 18 years, told the Los Angeles Times that Gibson had called him after the arrest and that Berg "was trying to communicate the actor's remorse to his staff and clients." Berg told the paper that "I hate what he said, and so does he" and that "his remarks have created a first class mess, and he has owned up to it."

Gibson released another statement on August 1st specifically apologizing for his anti-Semitic remarks and urged the Jewish community to help him in his recovery. [1]

After the incident, ABC cancelled Gibson's television mini-series on the Holocaust, citing lack of progress with the project.

Gibson issued another statement on August 1, 2006:

There is no excuse, nor should there be any tolerance, for anyone who thinks or expresses any kind of anti-Semitic remark. I want to apologize specifically to everyone in the Jewish community for the vitriolic and harmful words that I said to a law enforcement officer the night I was arrested on a DUI charge.

[...]

The tenets of what I profess to believe necessitate that I exercise charity and tolerance as a way of life. Every human being is God's child, and if I wish to honor my God I have to honor his children. But please know from my heart that I am not an anti-Semite. I am not a bigot. Hatred of any kind goes against my faith.

I'm not just asking for forgiveness. I would like to take it one step further, and meet with leaders in the Jewish community, with whom I can have a one on one discussion to discern the appropriate path for healing.

I have begun an ongoing program of recovery and what I am now realizing is that I cannot do it alone. I am in the process of understanding where those vicious words came from during that drunken display, and I am asking the Jewish community, whom I have personally offended, to help me on my journey through recovery. Again, I am reaching out to the Jewish community for its help. I know there will be many in that community who will want nothing to do with me, and that would be understandable. But I pray that that door is not forever closed.

Reportedly, Gibson's manager has confirmed that Gibson has entered rehab. However, Roger Friedman of Fox News Network reports "Gibson has not — I repeat in capital letters HAS NOT — entered into a serious rehab program for alcohol of any kind. He’s going to AA meetings, but he has not checked himself into a 28-day program at a place like the Betty Ford Clinic or Hazelden." [2]

Photos have been released just hours before the arrest showing a drunk, bloodshot-eyed Mel Gibson partying with fans.