Mel Gibson Says Tapes Were Edited

Mel Gibson has a lengthy interview up on Deadline where he says he’s never treated anyone badly, feels terrible about what happened and claims those tapes you heard were edited and taken from just one moment in time. Oh and The Beaver is coming out soon.

I’ve never treated anyone badly or in a discriminatory way based on their gender, race, religion or sexuality — period. I don’t blame some people for thinking that though, from the garbage they heard on those leaked tapes, which have been edited. You have to put it all in the proper context of being in an irrationally, heated discussion at the height of a breakdown, trying to get out of a really unhealthy relationship. It’s one terribly, awful moment in time, said to one person, in the span of one day and doesn’t represent what I truly believe or how I’ve treated people my entire life.

Actually, Mel seems to have adapted pretty well to what’s happened. He doesn’t even seem to mind that the cast of The Hangover forced him out of a cameo in the sequel while accepting a rapist like Mike Tyson.

You have to let that go. I sat here and talked to [director] Todd [Phillips] about it. I like Todd. How could you not like Todd? He’s smart and he’s gifted and so are the other people in the film. It’s okay. You just have to let that go.

Well, in Hollywood, rape is pretty normal. It’s like coke in that town. Everybody’s done it at least once.

When asked if Mel’s worried at all that the incident may have torpedoed his acting career, he brushes it off and says he wouldn’t mind if he never acted again.

“I’m beyond that, way beyond that. The whole experience has been most unfortunate. And so it’s not without all the downside.

I could easily not act again. It’s not a problem. I’m going to do something now because I want to do it and because it’s fun. I’ve already pulled another job and it’s going to be fun.”

And why would he? He’s made millions over the years. I wouldn’t work either. I’d just sit at home stroking my Bengal tiger and telling my sex slaves to dance for me.

Anyway, this is about 1/10th of the interview so head over the Deadline if you want to read it. Oddly, Deadline never mentioned if they had to blow Mel first before getting this interview but I’m just going to assume they did.