Gibson attended FanExpo Canada in Toronto for a Q&A about his career
Georges Biard, CC BY-SA 3.0
Mel Gibson has apologised after facing backlash over his appearance at FanExpo Canada in Toronto on Saturday, 29 August. During the event, he appeared to mimic an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter on stage. The brief moment was captured on video and quickly spread online, prompting angry reactions from viewers who accused the actor of mocking the interpreter.
The 70-year-old Braveheart star was attending the convention for a Q&A about his career, but the appearance was overshadowed by the incident. Social media users called the behaviour disappointing, while others questioned why Gibson continues to have a fan following despite his history of controversial remarks and behaviour.
Mel Gibson is reportedly under fire for mocking an ASL interpreter at Fan Expo Canada: pic.twitter.com/hraMHz8og0
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) August 31, 2026
Viral Clip Draws Furious Reactions
Gibson faced a wave of criticism after footage showed him walking onto the FanExpo stage behind an ASL interpreter before briefly making hand movements that appeared to imitate her signing.
One viral reaction bluntly branded him a ‘massive d*ck,’ while another accused him of behaving like a bully, arguing that such behaviour was not funny but instead rooted in ‘self-hatred.’
Others even questioned the contrast between Gibson’s behaviour and his involvement in faith-based films. ‘I don’t know what draws this bully to making films about Jesus. If he saw Jesus in real life, he’d call him a slur,’ the comment read.
‘Mocking disabled people like a monster,’ one critic wrote, while another asked: ‘How does this guy still have fans?’
Some commenters also argued that attitudes like this remain common among older generations, describing the incident as another example of casual cruelty towards disabled people.
Actor Calls It ‘Thoughtless Idiocy’
Gibson addressed the backlash two days after the event.
‘Sometimes when you get pushed out on a stage in a spotlight your mind is all over the place, and sometimes spontaneous thoughtless idiocy is displayed,’ he said in a statement shared with People. ‘There was no intended maliciousness attached, and I certainly apologise to anyone who was upset by it,’ Gibson added.
The footage itself does not establish what Gibson intended by the gestures, but viewers widely interpreted the moment as mocking the interpreter, prompting the actor to respond.
Mel Gibson at FanExpo
Gibson appeared at FanExpo Canada for a retrospective Q&A titled From Braveheart to Mad Max, moderated by Liam Crowley. During the session, he looked back at films including Mad Max and Lethal Weapon, while also discussing his current work.
The appearance comes as Gibson remains active in Hollywood, both as an actor and filmmaker. His recent work includes Hunting Season, an action thriller released in 2025 in which he stars as Bowdrie, a father whose isolated life is disrupted after his daughter discovers an injured woman.
He is also preparing for the release of The Resurrection of the Christ, his long-awaited follow-up to 2004’s The Passion of the Christ. The project has been divided into two films, with Gibson directing and co-writing the first instalment.
The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One is scheduled to reach cinemas on 6 May 2027, followed by Part Two on 25 May 2028.
History of Controversy
The latest backlash comes against the backdrop of Gibson’s history of controversy.
In 2006, he apologised after making antisemitic remarks during a DUI arrest in California. Four years later, leaked recordings of arguments with his former partner Oksana Grigorieva contained racist, misogynistic and threatening language.
Gibson later pleaded no contest to a misdemeanour battery charge involving Grigorieva. He was sentenced to 36 months of informal probation and ordered to complete community service and a 52-week domestic violence counselling programme.
Those incidents generated widespread backlash and damaged Gibson’s standing in Hollywood, although he continued working as an actor and filmmaker. His latest FanExpo appearance has now prompted fresh scrutiny, with critics revisiting his past while questioning his apology over the apparent mocking of the ASL interpreter.
