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It took a decade for Mel Gibson to be cast in another comedy in 2010, and only two days later he was fired
Mel Gibson’s planned cameo in *The Hangover Part II* was dropped in 2010, just two days after director Todd Phillips cast him as a Bangkok tattoo artist. The swift reversal followed reported objections from cast members, amid renewed scrutiny of Gibson’s past public conduct.
Gibson had gone about a decade without taking another comedy role after *What Women Want*, which earned nearly $375 million at the box office. Actor Zach Galifianakis later indicated he had protested Gibson’s involvement, while Phillips said the decision lacked the full support of the cast and crew. Gibson did not return to comedy until *Daddy’s Home 2* in 2017, excluding *Machete Kills*.
In short
- Gibson was dropped from *The Hangover Part II* cameo within two days.
- Cast and crew opposition contributed to the decision.
- His next comedy role came in 2017.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The filmmakers could reasonably argue that a production depends on trust and cooperation among its cast and crew, and that colleagues should be able to object when a casting choice raises serious concerns. Given renewed scrutiny of Gibson’s past public conduct, dropping the cameo may have seemed necessary to maintain a workable environment and avoid making the film’s set a platform for controversy.
The case against
Gibson’s defenders could argue that a performer should not lose a job through a rapid, informal veto, especially without a clear account of the objections or a fair chance to address them. They might also contend that professional decisions should distinguish between a person’s past conduct and the specific role, and that excluding him carried a real career cost without resolving the underlying concerns.