Mel Gibson apologizes for mocking ASL interpreter, blames ‘spontaneous thoughtless idiocy’
Actor Mel Gibson has apologised after video circulated online showing him mocking an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter during a panel appearance at Fan Expo Canada in Toronto. The 70-year-old waved to the crowd before appearing to jeer behind the interpreter on stage, prompting swift criticism on social media, with some users calling the gesture cruel and disrespectful towards the deaf community, while others dismissed it as harmless comedic behaviour.
Gibson addressed the backlash on Monday, telling Fox News Digital that "sometimes spontaneous thoughtless idiocy is displayed" when performers are put in the spotlight, insisting there was no intended malice and apologising to anyone upset by it. The incident occurred during his "From Braveheart to Mad Max" Q&A session, and organisers of the expo did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Gibson also confirmed he is currently in post-production on "The Resurrection of the Christ" in Toronto, and the article notes he was named a Special Ambassador to Hollywood by President Trump in 2025, alongside Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone.
- Mel Gibson apologised for mocking an ASL interpreter on stage
- Video sparked backlash, with mixed reactions online
- He blamed "spontaneous thoughtless idiocy," denied malicious intent
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Mel Gibson is a veteran Hollywood actor and director, known for films including Braveheart, Mad Max and The Passion of the Christ, as well as for past controversies over remarks he has made. He was appearing at Fan Expo Canada, a large pop-culture and entertainment convention in Toronto, taking part in a Q&A session about his career when the incident that prompted this story took place.
ASL, or American Sign Language, is the sign language used by many deaf and hard-of-hearing people in North America, and interpreters are often provided at public events so deaf audience members can follow what is being said. Video of Gibson's on-stage behaviour towards the interpreter at the panel spread on social media, drawing criticism from some viewers who saw it as disrespectful, while others viewed it as a joke.
The story matters partly because of how quickly clips from public appearances can spread online and shape an actor's public image, and partly because it touches on wider sensitivities around how deaf people and the interpreters who support them are treated in public life. It also comes at a moment when Gibson holds a degree of public prominence, having been given a symbolic ambassadorial role tied to the film industry by the US government in 2025.