Dear Mel Gibson,
Remember when Leonardo DiCaprio stood on that ship and declared, “I’m King of the World” (and then it sank)? Well, you were once the King of the World for real with a career that appeared to have no end in sight.
You had the world by the @$$ as my dad likes to say. You had every sought-after title on planet Hollywood under your belt: Actor, Director, Producer, Screenwriter, hunky leading man, and perhaps the most important one, fan favorite. Your shelves were filled with every coveted award and honor in the entertainment biz, from shiny Oscars to Golden Globes, People’s Choice to an army of moon man statues (even a Hasting Pudding Man of the Year accolade).
I, along with millions, fell in love with your grit and humor from the start in Mad Max and Lethal Weapon, was in awe of your groundbreaking directorial debut, The Man Without a Face, cheered your Academy Award win for directing Braveheart, and marveled at your most controversial work on film, The Passion of the Christ. You were The Patriot, for god’s sake. It doesn’t get much more valiant than that.
And now…I feel like you just sucker-punched me square in the gut.
Today, you have a whole new sludge trail of “alleged” and “reported” (and confirmed) titles after your name: anti-Semite, racist, homophobe, misogynist, alcoholic, drunk driver, and abuser, to name a few of the most notorious. Talk about an over-achiever! You have officially given the term a whole new, repulsive meaning.
In one fell swoop, you have single-handedly erased every great achievement you have ever had during a 30+ year career. GONE, GONE, GONE, just like that! Never again will you be known for your talent first – other than your Oscar-worthy attempt to fool us for so long into thinking you were a stand-up leading man.
In fact, you have just rewritten the first lines of your obituary.
Where does your hatred come from, Mel? It seems ingrained in your DNA. I don’t understand it, so please enlighten me, and you better hurry up. No apology or carefully crafted press statement is going to save you this time, and certainly not when presented side-by-side to the latest damning audiotapes with your alleged voice ranting and raving.
You had all the fame and money you could ever have possibly wanted, balanced with a beautiful companion, children, and grandchildren. That’s called a jackpot in this life, so rare that odds probably don’t even exist as to its probability. Yet when your tidal wave of a meltdown came, we were all yanked under with you.
If there were any possible way I could help you, I would be the first to extend a hand, because that’s the kind of guy I am. But, sadly, as optimistic as I am, I think you are beyond help this time. Worse yet, I have a sickening feeling that my extended hand would only be swatted away, or worse.
You remind me of another former superstar, whose vile activities landed him a starring role in the trial of the century, circa the 90’s. I’m just relieved the powers-that-be this time got to you before someone else paid the ultimate price for your actions.
See what you’ve done to me, and to a world full of former Mel Gibson fans, who stood behind you and bought the tickets to your movies, and even bought your first few apologies for indiscretions? You have replaced hope and inspiration with fear and disgust.
In a world that loves a good comeback story you can pat your maniacal ego on the back for having blown that possibility clean out of the same murky water you’re now drowning in.
All the same, I have only this to offer you…
Peace & Love,
J.
P.S. Mel, please relay the following message to your now former talent agency…
Congrats and thank you! By dumping Mel Gibson from your roster (although it is most likely self-serving), you have shown yourself to be a beacon of light in a town where handlers all too often cover for their fallen angels. You’ve sent a strong message to stars, great and small, young and old, that you are finally scrubbing their blood and rubbish off your hands…at least for today.
John Schlimm is a member of one of the oldest brewing families in the United States, meaning he sees life through sudsy, gold-colored glasses.
A former celebrity publicist, educator, and artist, John is the award-winning author of several books, including his latest, Harrah’s Entertainment Presents…The Seven Stars Cookbook as well as The Ultimate Beer Lover’s Cookbook (named “Best Beer Book in the U.S.” and “Best Beer Book in the World” by the international Gourmand Awards).
Join John on Facebook.com/JohnSchlimm and Twitter.com/JohnSchlimm. For more information, please visit www.JohnSchlimm.com.