Andrew Garfield says it’s time for Hollywood to forgive Mel Gibson.
Garfield, who starred in Gibson’s 2016 film “Hacksaw Ridge,” said during People’s “Movies of My Life” segment that Gibson is a “real empathetic guy” who “deserves” a “second chance.”
Gibson was effectively canceled after an anti-Semitic rant in 2006 was caught on camera as the actor/director was being arrested for a DUI. He later issued an apology, saying that there was “no excuse” for his remarks. Gibson also specifically apologized to the “Jewish community for the vitriolic and harmful words.” A decade after the incident, Gibson said in 2016 while promoting “Hacksaw Ridge” that it was “annoying” and “unfair” to still be marred by his past comments.
Garfield, who is Jewish, says that he had “deep, important conversations” with Gibson while making “Hacksaw Ridge.”
“He’s done a lot of beautiful healing with himself,” Garfield said of Gibson. “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.”
The “We Live in Time” star continued, “He’s the kind of director that would come from behind the monitors, just with his eyes wet. He knew when it was right and he knew when it wasn’t right. And I just really trusted him. And he’s a visceral storyteller so he can feel…He’s like he can’t help but feel everything. He’s a real empathetic guy.”
Garfield added that he “learned a lot” from his experience working with Gibson.
“I learned that people can heal. I learned that people can change, that people can get help,” Garfield said. “I learned that everyone deserves respect. And that people deserve second chances, third chances, fourth chances, that none of us are infallible.”
Last year, the producers of “John Wick” prequel spin-off series “The Continental” defended their controversial casting of Gibson in a key role. These days, Gibson is primarily a director. He recently made “Flight Risk” and is still working to get the long-awaited “Lethal Weapon 5” off the ground at Warner Bros.
Gibson previously told Variety that his controversial and offensive comments were “recorded illegally by an unscrupulous police officer” during his arrest, adding, “and then it was made public by him for profit, and by members of — we’ll call it the press. So, not fair. I guess as who I am, I’m not allowed to have a nervous breakdown, ever. […] I don’t understand why after 10 years it’s any kind of issue. Surely if I was really what they say I was, some kind of hater, there’d be evidence of actions somewhere. There never has been.”
