Gibson: Criticism Of The Passion Made Me Do It
From the AP
Mel Gibson said in an interview his anti-Semitic tirade last summer may have been set off by criticism of his 2004 movie "The Passion of the Christ" even before its release and by
Israel's war in Lebanon.In the interview broadcast Friday on ABC's "Good Morning America," Gibson also said he was "ashamed" by his remarks about Jews after his drunken-driving arrest, explaining that "when you're loaded, you know, the balance of how you see things -- it comes out the wrong way."
The interview with Diane Sawyer, parts of which were broadcast Thursday, was the first time Gibson has spoken to the media since sparking a storm after his July arrest. Gibson told the arresting officer: "The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world," and asked him, "Are you a Jew?"
"Let me be real clear here, in sobriety, sitting here in front of you on national television," Gibson told Sawyer, "I don't believe that Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world. I mean, that's an outrageous, drunken statement."
He said his words may have come from resentment following criticism he received before the release of "The Passion of the Christ." READ IT ALL
Bill McCartney
