Actor Andrew Garfield Praises Controversial Director Mel Gibson & Defends His Right To Work After ‘Cancellation’ By Hollywood

Actor Andrew Garfield has stood behind the extremely controversial Mel Gibson. Garfield starred in Gibson’s movie Hacksaw Ridge in 2016.

Hacksaw Ridge was the first film Gibson had done in ten years after he was arrested for a DUI in 2006 and recorded unleashing a long anti-Semitic rant. Following the scandal, tapes were leaked in 2010 that showed Gibson screaming the n-word, along with a slew of other racist remarks, at his girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva (also mother to one of his nine children).

Grigorieva accused Gibson of physical and verbal abuse, allegations which Gibson vehemently denied. Gibson has also routinely made homophobic comments. Over the years, people who worked with Gibson have continually come forward to share their experiences with Gibson’s use of slurs and behavior.

In an interview published on Tuesday, Garfield told People, “[Gibson’s] done a lot of beautiful healing with himself… and thank god. Because he’s an amazing filmmaker and I think he deserves to make films. He deserves to tell stories because he had a very big, compassionate heart.”

Jewish by heritage, Garfield recalled the “deep important conversations’ he had before he worked with Gibson in 2016, and shared, “I learned a lot actually… I learned that people can heal. I learned that people can change, that people can get help. I learned that everyone deserves respect. And that people deserve second chances and third chances, fourth chances. That none of us are infallible.”

It has been pointed out that it is awfully late in life for Garfield to come to the revelation that all people deserve to be treated with respect. Additionally, people shouldn’t be forced to continue to experience offensive behavior so the individual can grow as a person.

Garfield fawned, “He’s the kind of director that would come from behind the monitors, just with his eyes wet. He knew when it was right and he knew when it wasn’t right. And I just really trusted him. And he’s a visceral storyteller so he can feel. He’s like he can’t help but feel everything. He’s a real empathetic guy.”

In contrast to Garfield’s comments in support of Gibson’s re-integration into filmmaking, Gibson’s career has been at a stand-still; his thriller movie Flight Risk, starring renowned actor Mark Wahlberg, is set to be released in January of next year.

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