Biz on Mel-gate: the oys of summer

Hollywood divided over Gibson

By GABRIEL SNYDER

Gibson

Aviv

Emanuel

Mel Gibson's 'Apocalypto'

Newly elevated Walt Disney prexy Oren Aviv said he accepted Mel Gibson's apology for the anti-Semitic remarks he reportedly made during a drunken-driving arrest on Friday, even as Endeavor partner Ari Emanuel called on Hollywood to boycott the star.

Meanwhile, Gibson said he had checked into what his rep called "an ongoing program of recovery" to battle his troubles with alcohol.

Aviv, who will oversee the domestic release of Gibson's "Apocalypto," skedded to hit theaters Dec. 8, released a statement to Slate.com Monday, saying: "I've worked with Mel on several films over the years and we have a great relationship. We all make mistakes and I've accepted his apology to what was a regrettable situation. I wish him the very best on his path to healing."

In winning distrib rights to "Apocalypto," Disney made a hefty P&A commitment. Gibson's Icon Prods. financed the film's production budget.

But others, including Emanuel, said they did not accept Gibson's apology. Writing on the HuffingtonPost.com blog, Emanuel said: "At a time of escalating tensions in the world, the entertainment industry cannot idly stand by and allow Mel Gibson to get away with such tragically inflammatory statements."

He added: "People in the entertainment community, whether Jew or gentile, need to demonstrate that they understand how much is at stake in this by professionally shunning Mel Gibson and refusing to work with him, even if it means a sacrifice to their bottom line."

Emanuel was unavailable for further comment, but the blog's proprietor, Arianna Huffington, said email reaction was largely supportive of the tenpercenter. "It shows how the community is ready to take a stand," she said, predicting other Hollywood figures would make similar public remarks. "I think it will be followed. I think it's going to take a handful of men and women to make it unacceptable."

In her own posting, Huffington urged ICM to drop Gibson as a client and for Disney to drop both "Apocalypto" and a miniseries set during the Holocaust that Icon is producing for ABC.

Most other Hollywood figures, however, declined public comment on Gibson. Said one studio exec: "I think it's one of those things where people will choose to vote with their feet; that means either walking toward, or walking away."

The kerfuffle concerns remarks Gibson made to an L.A. County sheriff's deputy after he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.

According to the report written by the deputy on the scene, Gibson made anti-Semitic and sexist remarks as well as threats of retributions to the officers present.

The sheriff's report was being reviewed Monday by the L.A. District Attorney's office, which will decide whether to file criminal charges against Gibson.

Speaking on ABC's "The View," host Barbara Walters expressed her displeasure with Gibson's behavior and his subsequent apology, saying on the chatshow: "Well, I don't know how the rest of you feel, and I usually don't come out this strong one way or another about a movie, but I don't think I want to see any more Mel Gibson movies."

In addition to Aviv, other Gibson defenders came forward Monday. Catholic League prexy Bill Donohue, who is known for his fierce rebuttals to slurs against Catholics and as a vocal supporter of Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," released a statement attacking Gibson's critics, including the Anti-Defamation League's Abraham Foxman.

"Mel's enemies will never cut him a break," he said. "Their real goal is to discredit 'The Passion of the Christ,' and that is why their propaganda machine is in full gear ... . How ironic it is to note that the core message of his film -- forgiveness -- is sorely lacking in his critics."

Donohue went on to accuse Hollywood of hypocrisy for looking past other personal scandals. "In 2003, Roman Polanski, the convicted child rapist, received a standing ovation when he won an Oscar for 'The Pianist.' Nice to know what really offends Hollywood."

And Doug Martinez, who worked with Gibson while at Outreach Inc. to market "The Passion" to church congregations, said he, too, was willing to forgive: "I look at Mel no different as the rest of us, which is that none of us are without fault and we all make mistakes. But we have a very forgiving God."