Gary Oldman Apologises Again For Defending Mel Gibson on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ [VIDEO]
Gary Oldman gave an emotional interview in “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” apologising again for his alleged anti-Semitic comments. The English veteran actor is facing backlash after his comments on Playboy magazine, in which he defended Mel Gibson’s anti-Semitic remarks during his drunken tirade in 2006, were published online.
The 56-year-old BAFTA winner made headlines earlier this week when his interview with Playboy magazine was released. He has since apologised, but the Anti-Defamatory League (ADL) called his apology “insufficient.”
In the interview, Oldman said he was frustrated with the hypocrisy in Hollywood, claiming Mel Gibson, who is Catholic, is an outcast in Hollywood because the industry is run by Jews.
Gibson made headlines in 2006 after he was heard blaming the Jews for “all the wars in the world” during a drunken arrest.
“I don’t know about Mel. He got drunk and said a few things, but we’ve all said those things. We’re all f****** hypocrites. That’s what I think about it. The policeman who arrested him has never used the word n***** or that f****** Jew? I’m being brutally honest here. It’s the hypocrisy of it that drives me crazy,” he told Playboy.
He continued, “Mel Gibson is in a town that’s run by Jews and he said the wrong thing because he’s actually bitten the hand that I guess has fed him – and doesn’t need to feed him anymore because he’s got enough dough. He’s like an outcast, a leper, you know?”
His remarks attracted criticisms from the social media, with many users expressing their disappointment and anger at the respected actor for the alleged insensitivity of his words.
Oldman then wrote to the ADL to apologise, saying, “I am deeply remorseful that comments I recently made in the Playboy interview were offensive to many Jewish people.
“Upon reading my comments in print – I see how insensitive they may be, and how they may indeed contribute to the furtherance of a false stereotype.”
However, ADL was less than impressed with his apology .
“While his apology may be heartfelt, Mr Oldman does not understand why his words about Jewish control were so damaging and offensive, and it is therefore insufficient,” Abraham H. Foxman, national director of ADL, said, as quoted by Variety.
On Wednesday night, Oldman appeared on the late night show “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” and once again delivered his apology.
In an emotional plea, the “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” star acknowledged that what he said in his Playboy interview was wrong, saying he was an “a-hole.”
“I said some things that were poorly considered and once I had seen it in print I could see that it was offensive, insensitive, pernicious and ill-informed,” he said told the titular host.
“Words have meaning, they carry weight and they carry on long after you’ve said them and I don’t condone or excuse the words I used in any context. I just basically shouldn’t have used them in any context, but I did and I have deeply injured and wounded a great many people.
“So I appreciate you having me here and extending your hospitality to put me in this seat once again and it gives me the opportunity to say to those people that I, from my heart, I am profoundly sorry and deeply apologetic, especially to the fans because they have been so incredible to me and very loyal.”
“My nickname is they are ‘Team Oldman’ and I really feel that I let them down, especially the younger fans. I’m a public figure. I should be an example and an inspiration, and I’m an a-hole. I’m 56 and should know better.”
Kimmel attempted and successfully lightened the mood when he remarked, “I’m stuck on the fact that you call your fans Team Oldman,” which earned a chuckle from the actor.
The host also said what many viewers were perhaps thinking during Oldman’s speech, “I don’t know, you are a great actor so we cannot trust anything you say.”
“Oh no, trust me on this one,” Oldman said.
Watch Oldman’s moving apology:
