Antisemitic remarks at a 2006 DUI arrest, his apology, and Winona Ryder's 2020 claim
Outlets reported that during a July 2006 drink-driving arrest in Malibu, Mel Gibson made antisemitic remarks to a sheriff's deputy. He later admitted the remarks, apologised to the Jewish community and said he was not an antisemite. In 2020 Winona Ryder repeated a claim that he made an antisemitic remark to her around 1996, which his representative called '100% untrue'.
Editorial timeline of public reporting, not a legal finding.
- Malibu drink-driving arrest and reported antisemitic remarks to a deputy - The New York Times and The Guardian reported that Gibson was arrested early on July 28 on the Pacific Coast Highway on suspicion of drunk driving. Pages of the sheriff's report posted by TMZ said he asked the deputy if he was Jewish and said 'the Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world'. His first statement apologised for 'despicable' remarks but, the Times said, did not directly address the antisemitic claims. Mel Gibson Apologizes for Tirade After Arrest
- Gibson admits the antisemitic remarks and apologises to the Jewish community - BBC News and CBC reported that in a statement Gibson admitted making antisemitic remarks during the arrest and apologised to 'everyone in the Jewish community', writing 'please know from my heart that I am not an anti-Semite' and asking to meet Jewish leaders. The BBC said the remarks drew widespread criticism and that ABC dropped a Holocaust mini-series his company was developing, though ABC would not say whether that was linked. Gibson admits anti-Jewish remarks
- No contest plea in the drink-driving case and three years' probation - The Los Angeles Times, CBC and The New York Times reported that Gibson, through his lawyer, pleaded no contest in a Malibu court to driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher. He got three years' probation, an alcohol-abuse programme, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and $1,300 in fines; two other charges were dropped. The Times noted the police report said he made anti-Jewish statements. Gibson Uses Plea Deal to Resolve Case
- Winona Ryder repeats her claim and Gibson's representative denies it - BBC News, The Guardian and Reuters reported that Winona Ryder told The Sunday Times, repeating a 2010 claim, that at a party around 1996 Gibson made a homophobic remark to her gay friend and asked her if she was an 'oven dodger', a reference to her Jewish background. Gibson's representative called it '100% untrue' and Ryder stood by her account. The BBC added that Gibson had called a similar 2012 claim by Joe Eszterhas 'utter fabrications'. Mel Gibson and Winona Ryder at odds over anti-Semitism claims