Mel Gibson has apologised after a video appeared to show him mimicking an American Sign Language interpreter as he walked on stage at FanExpo Canada in Toronto.
The actor, 70, attended the event on Saturday, 29 August, for a career question-and-answer session. Footage shared on social media showed him making exaggerated hand movements behind the interpreter as she signed for the audience.
The brief clip prompted widespread criticism, with viewers accusing Gibson of making light of sign language and behaving insensitively towards deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
Some fans defended the actor, saying the footage did not make his intention clear. One US-based interpreter also said she did not believe Gibson was mocking deaf people, suggesting he may simply have been acting foolishly.
Gibson addressed the backlash in a statement to Variety, describing his behaviour as “spontaneous thoughtless idiocy”.
“Sometimes when you get pushed out on a stage in a spotlight your mind is all over the place, and sometimes spontaneous thoughtless idiocy is displayed,” he said.
“There was no intended maliciousness attached, and I certainly apologise to anyone who was upset by it.”
FanExpo Canada is held annually at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and features comics, science fiction, horror, anime, gaming and celebrity appearances. Gibson’s appearance included autograph and photo opportunities, advertised at US$275 each.
The incident came as other footage from the same event circulated online, including a clip of Reacher actor Alan Ritchson shaking the interpreter’s hand after his own question-and-answer session.
