Mel Gibson interview awkwardly interrupted after a question about Will Smith’s hit on Chris Rock

The actor-director was discussing his new movie, Father Stu, when the conversation turned to the incident in which Smith slapped Chris Rock during the 2022 Oscars on Sunday, March 27.

Gibson can be seen smiling and pointing at the camera. It was obvious that he wanted to avoid a media blast. His publicist’s voice can be heard saying, “Hey Jesse, thanks, our time is up.”

Watters tries one more time and asks, “Did you ever think of that?” However, Gibson’s publicist repeats: “Thank you, Jesse. Uh, our time is up.”

 

Fox News host Jesse Watters commented, “You probably understand it better than a lot of people, with your career. I was wondering if, you know, you would have jumped out of your seat and slapped Chris Rock in the face if you had been treated the same way, Mel.”

 

In what became one of the most talked-about moments in Oscar history, Smith slapped Rock onstage after the comedian made a joke about his wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith. The incident occurred after Rock made a joke about Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. She has openly commented in the past about her alopecia diagnosis.

 

Smith went on to win Best Actor for King Richard at the arrival ceremony, receiving a standing ovation from many celebrities in the crowd.

 

The actor, following criticism, resigned as a member of the Academy, but also faces disciplinary action.

 

He also offered Rock an apology, with the comedian commenting during his first stand-up show since the incident on Wednesday, March 30, that he’s “still processing” what happened.

In 2006, Gibson was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Malibu and making anti-Semitic comments to a police officer, for which he later apologized, saying the comments were “made in a moment of insanity.”

According to a police report, Gibson asked the officer if he was Jewish and exclaimed, “Fucking Jews. The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world.”

 

The actor was blacklisted in Hollywood for a short time, but, in 2017, he was nominated for Best Director for Hacksaw Ridge, starring Andrew Garfield.