The ‘Personal Betrayal’ of Mel Gibson

In Mel Gibson’s first interview since the infamous audiotape scandal broke loose, the 56-year-old actor opens up to freelance writer Allison Hope Weiner about his lapses in judgment, “personal betrayal,” and how he doesn’t much care if his acting career dries up. Ms. Weiner chose to publish her interview with Deadline.com because she didn’t want Gibson’s interview to be slanted, and sensed an “agenda” from other unnamed outlets.

She didn’t seem to sense an agenda from Mel, who despite all the hard-core proof to the contrary — police reports, audiotapes — continues to insist he is not a bigot or a bully. Mel will be soon be appearing in “The Beaver” with Jodie Foster – his first film role since the sh*t hit the fan.

“I’ve never treated anyone badly or in a discriminatory way based on their gender, race, religion or sexuality — period,” Gibson says. “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.”

Putting that in context, Mel must certainly believe it’s true because he thinks Oksana Grigorieva is nobody. In one of the tapes, after she tells him he’s been acting crazy, like a “monster,” and needs medication, Mel called her every filthy name in the book and straight up told her “no one will believe you!”

Even before the Oksana Grigorieva scandal, Gibson spent time in the media frying pan after his 2006 arrest for DUI. He made crude and anti-Semitic remarks while under the influence of alcohol. The “Mad Max” actor apologized publicly and asked for a chance to make amends by meeting with Jewish community leaders.

This time around, Gibson even blames his girlfriend for recording him, characterizing it as a “personal betrayal.” He does understand how people might judge him based on that. Well, it really wasn’t one moment — There were quite a few awful moments in those audiotapes.

“Who anticipates being recorded?” is Gibson’s first plaintive question. That one must be rhetorical.

“Who could anticipate such a personal betrayal?” is his second. Would it be out of context to draw the conclusion that he believes it’s okay to employ racist, misogynistic and hateful language in a domestic conflict, as long as it’s only for the ears of the person you are abusing. Also, he must feel the person this is being inflicted owes the abuser some sort of loyalty and should keep mum about it or it’s a “betrayal.” That’s what it sounds like to us, but Mel Gibson doesn’t care what we think, or anyone else, for that matter.

He’s “way beyond” caring whether he continues to be judged on these supposedly “out-of-context” audiotapes. “I could easily not act again,” the multi-millionaire said, “It’s not a problem. I’m going to do something now because I want to do it and because it’s fun.”