Anti-Semitic death threat by Mel Gibson alleged, debunked almost simultaneously [Updated]

Oksana Grigorieva says she told authorities that Mel Gibson made a hate-filled death threat toward a Jewish Hollywood figure who allegedly "humiliated him," Radar Online reported Friday — and TMZ chimed in with word that the allegedly endangered Hollywood figure cited in the story was none other than that website's chief, Harvey Levin, and that it had determined the story to be false.

TMZ reports that Grigorieva rep Steve Jaffe "spoon-fed" them the same story earlier this week, saying Oksana said Gibson told her he wanted the "blood of Jews" on his hands and that she'd reported it to the Sheriff's Department. TMZ says it checked out details of the story and they didn't wash. On Friday, Radar reported the "exclusive" story as the actor wanting "Jew blood" on his hands.

Levin says nobody ever warned him of a death threat, and the L.A. County Sheriff's Department told his website they never received any information of the sort.

[Updated: 3:30 p.m.: Sources close to the investigation also said that if everyone in Hollywood who theorized about killing Levin were arrested, the jails would be full and the studios empty.]

Perhaps shockingly — perhaps not shocking at all? — this alleged threat appears not to have been captured ...

... on audio tape.

"Jaffe told Harvey the story on the heels of complaining that a particular TMZ post was not favorable enough to Oksana," TMZ says. 

And now, skipping allegations of chair-tossing and lawsuit-threatening that surfaced Thursday, we'd like to relay one particular tidbit that dropped in the Grigorieva-Gibson brouhaha: Echoing something the Ministry has wondered about since hearing "You make me want to smoke" in the second tape, Oksana reportedly said in custody mediation that Gibson had flown off the handle Jan. 6 because he'd quit smoking that day.

Indeed, Gibson put off an interview with The Times' Geoff Boucher only a few days later, citing the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

"I'm coming rapidly to the conclusion that right now, today, my brain cannot function," Gibson told Boucher in January. "Honestly? I'm six days off the cigarette. You're looking at someone who's having a pretty bad withdrawal from a 45-year habit."

The interview was conducted three days later. You can read it here.

— Christie D'Zurilla

Photo: Oksana Grigorieva and Mel Gibson at the Spanish premiere of his film "Edge of Darkness" on Feb. 1. Credit: Juan Medina / Reuters.

Related dispatches from or presented by the Ministry of Gossip:

Sheriff will investigate Mel Gibson's extortion claim against Oksana Grigorieva

Mel Gibson: The shadow in his smile

The sixth alleged Mel Gibson tape: 'monster' and child — while his attorney makes his case to the sheriff

For posts about the first, second, third, fourth and fifth tapes, click the appropriate links.

Mel Gibson isn't moving to Australia -- but you knew that

Mel Gibson, Lindsay Lohan get send-ups with signature cocktails

Comments

[underscore]

It’s the public that will ultimately determine Mel Gibson’s prospects. Not a vile gossip rag like Radar Online. The tabloid media feeding frenzy and lack of fact checking surrounding this whole fiasco is risible.

[underscore]

Oksana and her sinister sister, Natalie, are laughing all the way to the bank. The mainstream media has swallowed Oksana's elaborate scam hook, line and sinker. Since when did sleazy tabloids like Radar Online start dictating the news cycle and become authoritative voices worthy of our collective adulation?

[Darya]

I'm Russian and can tell you that Oksana is a gold-digger not because she is Russian, but because she's a gold-digger.

I'm a woman, and I support Mel Gibson.

[stephen Real]

It looks like Oksana Grigorieva jail cell
next to Lindsey Lohan's
is being readied as we speak.

She should zip it,
because her case is folding up
like a cheap paper suit.

Gosh!
I love this gossip column stuff fellas.
The guilty pleasures in life.
Ahhhh!

[Martina]

This is all very sad!I have no clue what Oksana was or is trying to do by making this saga public.What exactly will it solve or help?It could not have been done behind closed doors? Of course it could.I thought this is about her baby and let's not forget Mel's "other" seven kids and what this is doing to them.Also this is definitely not helping the whole domestic abuse issue which is a serious problem.

[LarryG]

If anyone reading any of this has ever had any dealings with Russians you would know it's nothing but a set-up scam. dealing with a Russian is like dealing with a crocodile - you just don't know what they're thinking when they smile.

[Lola]

This woman is EVIL!!!!!!!!!!!! Poor Mel Gibson, he needed support and she took advantage of him being vulnerable when he was in withdrawl and pushed his buttons to provoke him. It is absolutely evil! I hope Mel Gibson gets away ok and with a learned lesson in humility and devotion to good people such as his WIFE!!

[boy]

I agree with ones who read further than ones wanting to believe immediacy like fast and incomplete scrutinizations. It is possible to believe Mel Gibson is neither rascist nor anti-semitic. There are reasons to believe it. More thinkings and scrutinizations than sleepy-type conformities may more illuminate to more correct descriptions of the man. Maybe note instead ones who look to cause him to appear a certain way and less than beliefs of him before and of ones believing what is less of him than of the good of before and rumorizing with a basis of an alteration of an outlook to cause him to appear less than before without asking certain questions.

[joetheplumber]

If Mel Gibson was black he would be in jail, and the woman would get soul custody of the child. This is a double standard. They have the taped evidence that he is an abuser and white women and men alike are saying they need to get along. She needs a restraining order on Mel Gibson, not co-parenting classes. AM I THE ONLY ONE WITH SENSE!!

[Baruch Roth]

Only a fool can not recognize the evil behind this woman's actions.

[Trace]

I don't know about everyobe else BUT I for one AM not drinking the "Mel's guilty" kool-aid!
This is a complete travesty of justice for Mel. Imagine your WORST moment ever being caught on tape and exploited for the world to rehash and scrutinize every single word of it! *shudder @ the thought* She waited SIX month to claim violence against, and ONLY after her $15 mill deal fell through.
Those tapes are COMPLETELY manipulated, spliced, and diced to be Self-serving to HER and to make Mel look like a devil.
The pix of her are photoshopped, and PRE-Nose job. Makes you wonder if they are the from the same 'evidence ' she used against Timothy Dalton, who she ALSO accused of Domestic Violence!
She's has shown herself as the REAL Devil in this whole sordid saga! (google her and see for yourelf!) This isn't HEr first rodeo...