The troubled actor-director -- currently embroiled in an apocalyptic break-up and the "pack of n***ers" scandal that comes along with it -- can now finally be heard on tape blowing up in spectacular fashion at ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva. Dark as it is, it's tough to determine where Gibson's rage crosses the line into despair; there's something lost in his voice, or maybe it's just him catching his breath before the next sortie. Either way it's toxic and will not necessarily enliven your Friday night social rituals. Unless you are a lonely neo-Nazi, in which case off you go.
Curious timing, then, with word that GIbson is exiting WME. Of course, he suffered an arguably more crushing blow last week when his long-time agent Ed Limato passed away after a long battle with lung disease. The former ICM titan came along with the William Morris furniture after its merger with Endeavor, bringing his fistful of A-listers along with him. This despite Emanuel's vocal condemnation of Gibson after his anti-Semitic rant in Malibu in 2006, a bit of history that reportedly ended up with Gibson "not officially represented" by WME at the time of Limato's death. Interesting. Nikki Finke also notes that the star's departure is not officially attributable to Limato's passing, but rather the publicity fallout from his Grigorieva bust-up. The release of the tapes is not cited, but you know what to do with two and two.
Anyway! TGIF, Mel?
· WORLD EXCLUSIVE AUDIO: Mel Gibson's Explosive Racist Rant [Radar Online]
· WME Dumps Mel Gibson As Agency Client [Deadline]