Variety - How Does Mel Gibson Still Have a Career?

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Last week, Winona Ryder spoke about a time in the 1990s when she recalls Gibson making anti-Semitic and homophobic comments – calling her an “oven-dodger,” a reference to the Holocaust — which Gibson aggressively denied, calling her a liar. It wasn’t the first time Ryder has spoken of the alleged incident, which first came up in a magazine interview over a decade ago, but with her recent comments, the public was reminded of Gibson’s history of bad behavior. In the age of cancel culture, when one slip-up can kill a career, Gibson has managed to survive, despite insulting and denigrating gay, Black, and Jewish people at several different times. 

As social justice movements have swept Hollywood, the entertainment industry has taken notice and is holding its own members accountable. Amid anti-racism efforts following George Floyd’s killing, a number of comedians from Jimmy Kimmel to Jimmy Fallon to Howard Stern have apologized for wearing blackface in skits; reality stars from “Vanderpump Rules” have been fired for racist tweets; and Lea Michele lost endorsement deals when a former co-star accused her of bad behavior on set. 

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Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, tweeted, “Winona Ryder’s account is another example of Mel Gibson’s disgusting anti-Semitism and homophobia. But it’s not just about hate. The same white male privilege and power that props up a bigot like Gibson also safeguards a system that holds back so many talented, diverse artists.”

This week, Gibson’s latest film, Lionsgate’s action thriller, “Force of Nature,” was released, and Lionsgate declined to comment on Ryder’s allegations. The actor has a healthy number of projects lined up, albeit from lower-profile production companies. These include low-budget films “Fatman,” “Last Looks” and “Boss Level,” and one major studio flick — the reboot of “Wild Bunch,” which Gibson is set to direct. Warner Bros. confirmed to Variety this week that Gibson is still attached to direct “Wild Bunch,” which is in early development. 

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