Just when you thought you'd never think about Oksana Grigorieva's damning tapes of Mel Gibson's pyromaniacal requests for oral sex again, the Braveheart star's brother is here to echo Jodie Foster and Whoopi Goldberg: Mel's not a racist, y'all! He's not even racist. Or aggressive. Or a litterer. Here, let's allow Andrew Gibson to explain it all.
According to Andrew Gibson, whose quotes appear in Australia's The Mercury, the Mel we think we know is -- well, not that Mel.
Mr Gibson said the entire Gibson clan did not believe alleged taped conversations of Mel, 55, using abusive, homophobic and racist language were really him.
"When I heard them I just thought, 'That isn't Mel.' He has never said anything abusive, aggressive or racist in his life," Mr Gibson said.
While he admitted his brother had made homophobic quotes during a 1991 interview, an openly gay Mr Gibson said his brother's comments were not meant to cause any offence and that when he came out to family and friends more than two decades ago, Mel had been supportive.
"He never meant to upset anyone. I have never once heard anything anti-gay come out of his mouth," Mr Gibson said.
I understand defending your family. I even understand trying to improve a relative's public image when he doesn't deserve it. But it's pretty ridiculous that Andrew Gibson, who heard the horrible rant with his own ears, can't even muster up the gall to say, "What he said was awful. It was embarrassing" before then claiming Mel didn't mean any harm. On the other hand, it's difficult not to take a brother's point of view seriously. I don't know. I wish someone close to Mel could just say, "Yes, it was offensive," and acknowledge the severity of a crack like, "You look like a f***ing pig in heat, and if you get raped by a pack of n***ers, it will be your fault." Disappointing, Drew!
Mel's no madman [The Mercury]