Friends tell of complicated man

Chicago Tribune ^ | 4 Aug 06 | Numerous

[elhombrelibre]

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- No one saw it coming.

Not his agent or his bosses; the shoot he had just wrapped had been long, strange and physically difficult but not out of control.

Certainly the friends with whom he spent his last scandal-free afternoon had no idea that Mel Gibson was about to go on a life-changing bender. If they had, they would have done everything to stop it, because while conventional wisdom has it that Mel Gibson has been sober since the early 1990s, some of those close to him acknowledge that he has been on and off the wagon for years.

[elhombrelibre]

When we study why someone is successful, I believe we learn that certain habits and traits make it possible. And when we look at what ruins people, bad habits and traits lead them to it. Obviously, getting smashed was a bad habit for Mel; it's ruined many people, poets, writers, singers and ordinary folks. And the trait that allowed Mel's mouth to get him in trouble may have been hubris. However, this article gives some insight that at least for many people close to him, Mel is not a normally a raving bigot. At least that's good to know. It's interesting to see he has close friends who are Jewish who had no idea he might have these lunatic ideas. This certainly goes against the idea that he's an obsessed Jew-hater.

[edcoil]

You would think Mel killed someone with all this diatribe - maybe the only reason Mel was pissed at jews is that his bodyguard that is jewish failed to take care of him that day.

[ChocChipCookie]

I can't believe how people are writing about Mel as if his career is over due to one stupid incident. Hollyweird routinely produces far more scandalous events than this, but it's as though some cabal has just been waiting for Mel to do SOMETHING so they could write his epitaph. All of this has nothing to do with the actual DUI.

[brownsfan]

"This certainly goes against the idea that he's an obsessed Jew-hater."

Only a moron would assume that of Gibson, (not saying that of you, it's clear you don't believe that). He's human, this is a glaring character flaw, but to think one incident indicates an obessesion is at best hyper-critical.

We all have things we think that we're not proud of, and do our best to keep at bay using our rational mind. Mr. Gibson got drunk and his rational mind was impaired. He let a demon of his out.

I'm disappointed that this is one of his demons. I'm disappointed he did this. But, I still respect him, and hope he gets proper help.

[allen08gop]

Perhaps Mel, an actor who needs enhanced empathy to perform a character, was channeling the MSM of late -- anti-Israel? The booze brought that out?

Just asking...

[31R1O]

It seems to me that for many people creativity, innovation, non-conformity and self destructive tendencies go hand in hand.

[desherwood7]

Success can be the biggest destroyer of somebody.

[theDentist]

Seems a lot more people here were more sympathetic to Patches Kennedy and his drug/alcohol issues than with Mel falling off the wagon... I for one hope he gets help.

[jdm]

[elhombrelibre]

If I had a Jewish body guard, I wouldn't believe he's supposed to take care of me. And if I did, I wouldn't lash out at his co-religionists because of a perception of failure. I'm supposed to take care of me; it's my job to do that. Would you think the same thing if his body guard was a Baptists and Mel said Baptists caused all wars?

Mel's story is a human interest one and a show biz story that's full of tragedy brought on by his addiction and loss of control. Probably a lot of people can learn from his sins. And celebrities can't have it both ways. They cannot trade in their fame when it benefits them and enjoy the lime light when it's all positive and then plead privacy when they're shown behaving badly. It comes with the turf.

[jamaly]

BUMP FOR LATER.

[ClearCase_guy]

You would think Mel killed someone with all this diatribe

When I saw the headline I really thought it was about some serial killer. "He was always so quiet. Kept to himself mostly."

Turns out it's just another Mel story. Get over it, people!

[Xenalyte]

If I had a Jewish body guard, I wouldn't believe he's supposed to take care of me.

What do you think a bodyguard does?

[elhombrelibre]

I agree with you that much of the anti Neo-Con stuff and the one-sided media reports encourage leaps of logic about Jews, but I still think Mel's got to come to grips with whatever it was that makes him believe such wicked things. After all, most Americans are not being infected with this Leftwing bias against Israel and Jews.

[elhombrelibre]

Oh, if I had a body guard he'd make sure I didn't drink too much and make sure I didn't say stupid and hateful things. I'm sure most body guards do that type of thing.

[WesternPacific]

Mel Gibson called someone or a group of people a name or several names if the gossip is correct. This being done while he was under the influence of alcohol. Seems as 50% of the world is outraged! We need to go back to our innocent childhood where "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me"

I think the kids have it right.

[Xenalyte]

And that's not "taking care of" you?

[elhombrelibre]

Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you'd recognize that was absurd. Do you really think Mel's body guards decides how much he can drink and what he can say, and even more interesting that his body guard is the one responsible for his drinking and his words? It kind of seems like Mel's job to me.

[elhombrelibre]

Oh, I agree. And with success one often gets idle time and the old adage about idle hands being the devil's workshop are similar to this thought.

[originalbuckeye]

Maybe he needs a 'minder'. What the Brits call the adult babysitters that many celebs employ.