Mel Gibson apologizes after a video circulating online shows him making seemingly derisive hand gestures behind the back of an American Sign Language interpreter as he walks onstage at a fan event in Toronto. The clips, which are described by several outlets as brief, sparked backlash from some viewers who said the actions were insensitive toward the interpreter.
The incident occurred at Fan Expo Canada during a career retrospective Q&A, according to multiple reports. The New York Times and other outlets describe the gesture as appearing mocking, while others focus on the interpreter element and the public reaction that followed the video’s spread. Several outlets cite Gibson’s response, in which he characterizes the moment as “thoughtless idiocy” or “spontaneous thoughtless idiocy,” and says there was no intended maliciousness.
Reporting differs mainly in wording and emphasis—some outlets highlight the interpreter and perceived mockery, while others stress Gibson’s explanation that the behavior was not meant to be malicious. All accounts note that his apology came after online criticism.
