Mel Gibson faces backlash after a video appeared to show him making hand gestures near a deaf interpreter
Pop Culture & ArtAugust 31, 20261 min readImage: Reuters
Mel Gibson is facing backlash after a video from Fan Expo Canada appeared to show the actor making hand gestures near an American Sign Language interpreter.
The incident took place on Saturday at Fan Expo Canada in Toronto, where Gibson appeared onstage for a conversation with moderator Liam Crowley. As the actor was introduced, an interpreter was signing for deaf attendees in the audience.
Mel Gibson is in hot water with the Deaf community for mocking the ASL interpreter behind her back at a fan expo event in Toronto.
This kind of tracks given Mel’s track record with racist and misogynistic views. /1 pic.twitter.com/SdvgPekkJU
— eissyrc (@eissyrc) August 30, 2026
Video from the event shows Gibson walking onto the stage behind the interpreter before briefly turning towards the audience and making several hand gestures. He then approached Crowley, shook his hand and took his seat for the discussion.
The footage was shared online, where some social media users accused Gibson of mocking the interpreter. One person described the alleged behaviour as “despicable”, while another called the actor “a gross human being”.
Other viewers urged people to avoid reaching a conclusion about Gibson’s intentions without more context. The available footage does not establish whether his gestures were intended to mock the interpreter or were simply an attempt to communicate with the audience.
One critic who shared a clip of the moment on X also referenced Gibson’s previous controversies and alleged history of racist and misogynistic views.
The actor has faced public controversy throughout his career, including criticism over offensive remarks and allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
Gibson’s representatives have been contacted for comment about the Fan Expo Canada incident. No response has been reported so far.
The video continues to draw reactions online, with social media users debating whether Gibson’s gestures were intended as mockery or were being interpreted without sufficient context.
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