I know. One lesson I am reminded of in all this, is that we don't really know people like Mel Gibson. We think we know them, they have people who are paid to craft their public personas, but in the end we don't really know them and we best not imbue them with the heroic qualities of the characters they play or portray.
I think that encapsulates the situation very nicely. At least his statement shows contrition, rather than an attempt to brazen it out at the expense of the people he wronged. That's a starting point, at least.