Mel Gibson's outrageous new rant: Is it time for more anger management?

We all know that Mel Gibson is a very, very angry guy, something that seems to surface at the most inopportune times, as when the WGN-TV reporter Dean Richards had the temerity to ask the actor, on camera, about the fallout from his 2006 drunk driving arrest and Gibson called him a profane name that we can't repeat here. After that incident, Gibson acknowledged that "I have a short fuse. I'm trying to work on it."

But judging from this explosive new story that just broke at RadarOnline.com, Gibson needs to put a little more time into anger management. Maybe a lot more time. Radar reporters say they have heard a tape made by Oksana Grigorieva, Gibson's ex-girlfriend and mother of his baby daughter, Lucia, who have been battling in court over custody issues.

In an e-mail to The Times, Gibson representative Alan Nierob said that he had not yet confirmed the report's accuracy "due to legal matters."

According to Radar, Gibson is heard yelling insults at Grigorieva, including a nasty racial epithet known in polite society as the N-word. In one of his rants, Gibson reportedly says, "You look like a ... pig in heat, and if you get raped by a pack of ..., it will be your fault."

In addition to a string of derogatory words referring to Grigorieva's womanhood, Gibson also is said to have threatened her, saying "I am going to come and burn the ... house down," adding, "but you will [perform oral sex on] me first."

There's much, much more, but I'll spare you the gory details. You'll undoubtedly hear all about them in the media uproar that is sure to follow. If Gibson has an explanation for his racial epithets, which of course echo the vile anti-Semitic remarks he made after his DUI arrest, it is sure to be a doozy. So far, according to Radar, Gibson has not denied having a confrontation with Grigorieva but has simply described it, through his lawyer, as a loud argument.

It's way too early to start talking about the career fallout from his latest tirade, except to say that if these tapes are authentic, Gibson should be figuring out not whether to make an apology, but when and where. It's a sad thing to realize that the actor who was so gifted at playing bitter, violent men on screen is apparently drawing all too easily on a store of bitterness and anger from deep inside his own psyche. It sounds to me as if it's time for Gibson's friends to get this man some help. Fast. 

Photo: Mel Gibson in character as Thomas Craven in the thriller "Edge of Darkness."

Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

   

Comments

[Hudson]

"Ugh. If you look up Mel Gibson in the dictionary, you'll find it cross references with "lowlife" and "hypocrite.""

No it doesnt. It shows a picture of MAD MAX and he will kick your ASS!

[Dee]

I was a great fan of his and I had admired his faith and the fact that he built a church. All that is gone now. He is a huge disappointment to those of us who thought highly of him. I think it's worse for people who tout their religion to behave badly because it causes many to turn away from God. A famous person has a greater burden than the rest of us to lead by example.

[Brad]

poor mike...thats right mike...spend the rest of your life waiting for christ to come and blaming everyone else for your racist views..lolll...just sad you cant look past what your evil parents taught you as a kid...now you are just a kid in and adult's body...very sad for you..lol

as far as mel gibson is concerned..his dad is a nazi and he is scumbag racist...lay off the bottle mel so you can catch yourself next you start telling us how you really feel...i for one will not pay to see another one of this racist's movies

[Jane]

Kind of a slob, okay? All that talent, but a very bad boy. Sounds like the woman let him dig himself deeper - but it also sounds like theater.

As for the "vile" antisemitic comments to an arresting officer, I seem to recall that he merely said something about how Hollywood is run by the Jews (this is a slur?) and they even have Jewish policemen (I think the officer was). Even Jackie Mason absolved him in this instance.

No, vile is the kind of stuff he said to his wife. It shows a bit of misogyny which really is vile.

[Rick Evans]

Relax: He was practicing to be a hip-hop rapper.

[who cares]

Come on... this chick is a gold digging hussy, obviously out for Mel's money... why else would she tape their conversations... I've met mel, he's a very nice guy. Far from perfect, but which of you is? Who hasn't gotten into heated arguments with people and regretted what they said? THe difference is, is that this which (I would use one of the other words but I doubt it would be published) is making it public. Big deal... there's no news about what She said to provoke this... you know why? Cause no one cares about her...

[J. Sperling Reich]

While Gibson's actions, if accurate, are indefensible, I am fascinated by your comments about his ability to play "bitter, violent men on screen" being a byproduct of his own inner anger.

I'm not disputing this, but it simply made me think how often this trait seems to emerge in talented actors and actresses.

Just look at the crazy antics of Dennis Hopper as a drug-infused character in any number of films, Mickey Rourke trying to make a comeback in a film about a wrestler trying to revive his own career, Angelina Jolie winning an Oscar for playing a mentally ill teenager and shortly after walks around wearing a vial of her then-husband's blood and of course there's the legendary performance of the psychologically twisted character Marlon Brando played in "Apocalypse Now" and his own behavior in the later years of his life.

Maybe it's their own vices and psychological issues that help make them such good actors. In fact, maybe acting even helps them keep some of their darker personality traits in check.

[Gilda]

Jane, he also referred to the female officer who was present at that time as "sugart*ts".

I just don't believe that's appropriate.

[jcb]

I just wanted to jump in and say that, as a Christian, I do not condone his actions and think he is being an idiot. By the way, all the insults being hurled at Christians show that you are acting in the same vein as Mel - hate is the same regardless of how it's expressed.

[Thea123]

It is interesting that Hollyweird (and our sick celebrity obsessed culture) bestows the priveleges, perks and power of super-fame on such a motely collection of ignorant, narcissistic and mentally disordered people. Why don't we start a blog entitled, "Who is the sickest celebrity and why?" Oh, God, I'm bored all ready. It would go on forever!