Jason Isaacs is speaking out about his former co-star Mel Gibson. The “White Lotus” actor starred alongside Gibson in 2000 film “The Patriot” and later, 2022’s “Agent Game.” However, Isaacs isn’t standing by Gibson’s actions, especially his infamous antisemitic rant in 2006 when being arrested for a DUI.
Isaacs told Vulture that he actually confronted Gibson at a party after the incident. “I went, and Mel was there, and he called ‘Jace’ across the room, very friendly. I went, ‘Rabbi Gibson, how are we?’ He came up and he said, ‘I was really drunk, man. I was trying to get him to hit me or shoot me or something. I’m having a terrible time.’ And he proceeded to unload some very personal things,” Isaacs said.
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Isaacs later explained that while he doesn’t quite “forgive” Gibson for his actions, he is still open to speaking with him. “[Mel] was very charming personally, and he’s intelligent and self-deprecating. He’s said and done some things that are unconscionable and unforgivable,” Isaacs said, adding that Gibson “was there making himself vulnerable.”
“No, you can’t forgive everything from everyone. I’m not saying I forgive Mel. I’ve seen him once a decade for five minutes,” he added. “But if he knocked on my door tonight and said, ‘Look, my hotel’s canceled. Can I stay?’ I’d say, ‘Yes,’ probably.”
Yet Isaacs clarified that Gibson is “not my friend” even though they “text each other once in a blue moon.”
Gibson issued an apology after the 2006 arrest, saying that there was “no excuse” for his remarks. The “Lethal Weapon” actor also specifically apologized to the “Jewish community for the vitriolic and harmful words.” A decade after the incident, Gibson later said in 2016 while promoting “Hacksaw Ridge” that it was “annoying” and “unfair” to still be marred by his past comments.
Gibson’s “Hacksaw Ridge” co-star Andrew Garfield said in 2024 that Gibson is a “real empathetic guy” who “deserves” a “second chance” in Hollywood. Garfield, who is Jewish, says that he had “deep, important conversations” with Gibson while making “Hacksaw Ridge,” adding, “He’s done a lot of beautiful healing with himself. And thank God, because he’s an amazing filmmaker, and I think he deserves to make films. He deserves to tell stories, because he has a very, very big, compassionate heart.”
Gibson is next directing “The Resurrection of the Christ,” a sequel to 2004’s “Passion of the Christ,” for Lionsgate.
