September 02, 2026
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Aussie legend Mel Gibson has been harshly criticised by online entertainment pundits for his alleged mockery of an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter last weekend.
The 70-year-old actor and model Christian appeared at the FanExpo Canada on Saturday, August 29, to speak at a panel and sign autographs.
While walking out on stage to greet the audience, Gibson performed several hand gestures as he stood behind the ASL interpreter.
Video of Gibson’s appearance went viral, sparking instant online backlash from many fans and social media users.
In a statement to entertainment magazine Variety, Gibson delivered a media-placating apology.
The 70-year-old actor and model Christian appeared at the FanExpo Canada on Saturday, August 29, to speak at a panel and sign autographs.
While walking out on stage to greet the audience, Gibson performed several hand gestures as he stood behind the ASL interpreter.
Video of Gibson’s appearance went viral, sparking instant online backlash from many fans and social media users.
In a statement to entertainment magazine Variety, Gibson delivered a media-placating apology.
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"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 told the outlet. "There was no intended maliciousness attached, and I certainly apologize to anyone who was upset by it."
However, numerous experts in the fields of audiology and cinematic history have come to the defence of Gibson’s actions.
Audiologist Hortence Loggia says Gibson has demonstrated his membership within the tight-knit deaf community for decades.
However, numerous experts in the fields of audiology and cinematic history have come to the defence of Gibson’s actions.
Audiologist Hortence Loggia says Gibson has demonstrated his membership within the tight-knit deaf community for decades.
“From Gibson’s focus on primarily blaming Jews for Christ’s death through his portrayal of them in The Passion of the Christ, to asking Winona Ryder at a Hollywood party back in 1996 if she was an "oven dodger", through to his 2006 rant about Jews when being pulled over while drunk driving, Gibson has repeatedly demonstrated societal tone-deafness in the Jew-run town that is Hollywood,” Mrs Loggia says.
We asked Loggia for further insights about Gibson’s tone-deafness qualifying him as a legitimate member of the deaf community, but she could no longer be reached due to being cancelled immediately after giving the above quote.
Greek-Italian film historian and cunning linguist Con Traversi says Gibson’s imitation of the ASL interpreter was the “furthest thing from mockery”.
“Imitation has long been called the sincerest form of flattery. Just ask Sabrina Carpenter who has styled herself to become almost a carbon copy of Hayden Panettiere,” Professor Traversi says. “Gibson has repeatedly demonstrated his commitment to being true to original languages in his historical films. In The Passion of the Christ the actors performed their dialogue in Aramaic, Latin and Hebrew, in Apocalypto they spoke Indigenous Yucatec Mayan and in Braveheart the Scots all spoke English, just like they still do today,” Professor Traversi observes.
Greek-Italian film historian and cunning linguist Con Traversi says Gibson’s imitation of the ASL interpreter was the “furthest thing from mockery”.
“Imitation has long been called the sincerest form of flattery. Just ask Sabrina Carpenter who has styled herself to become almost a carbon copy of Hayden Panettiere,” Professor Traversi says. “Gibson has repeatedly demonstrated his commitment to being true to original languages in his historical films. In The Passion of the Christ the actors performed their dialogue in Aramaic, Latin and Hebrew, in Apocalypto they spoke Indigenous Yucatec Mayan and in Braveheart the Scots all spoke English, just like they still do today,” Professor Traversi observes.
When this journalist pointed out that 13th century Scots spoke Gaelic, Mr Traversi insisted this was not a real language and sounded like a technique you would read about on the Grindr app.
“Therefore,” Professor Traversi continued, “Gibson was simply being faithful to the context on stage and seeking to communicate in the same language as the ASL interpreter. What better way could there be for Gibson to show solidarity with the ASL interpreter and the broader deaf community?”
“Gibson’s films show he has always valued authenticity in language and his attempt to gesture in a similar fashion was an expression of his tireless commitment to his craft. Evidently, he is not yet a fluent communicator of ASL, but I am sure with enough karate lessons he will get the technique down just fine.”
“Therefore,” Professor Traversi continued, “Gibson was simply being faithful to the context on stage and seeking to communicate in the same language as the ASL interpreter. What better way could there be for Gibson to show solidarity with the ASL interpreter and the broader deaf community?”
“Gibson’s films show he has always valued authenticity in language and his attempt to gesture in a similar fashion was an expression of his tireless commitment to his craft. Evidently, he is not yet a fluent communicator of ASL, but I am sure with enough karate lessons he will get the technique down just fine.”
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