{
  "id": 4782519,
  "title": "Mel Gibson calls his own behaviour ‘thoughtless idiocy’ after mocking sign language interpreter on stage",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/mel-gibson-calls-his-own-behaviour-thoughtless-idiocy-after-mocking",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-01T03:49:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/showbiz/2026/09/01/mel-gibson-calls-his-own-behaviour-thoughtless-idiocy-after-mocking-sign-language-interpreter-on-stage/233497"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mel Gibson has publicly apologized for his perceived mockery of an American Sign Language interpreter during a question-and-answer session at Fan Expo Canada. The 70-year-old actor described his actions as \"thoughtless idiocy,\" and insisted he did not intend to offend anyone. Gibson appeared at the convention in Toronto on August 29, where he was filmed making exaggerated hand gestures behind the interpreter who was signing for the audience. Social media quickly responded with criticism, with many viewing Gibson's behavior as disrespectful to the interpreter and the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Fan Expo Canada representatives have not yet commented on whether Gibson reached out to the interpreter directly. This incident is not Gibson's first public apology for controversial remarks. In 2006, he apologized for anti-Semitic comments made during an arrest for driving under the influence. More recently, Gibson has faced scrutiny for his association with political figures, including Donald Trump, who once named him among his \"eyes and ears\" in 2025. Despite a 2011 criminal conviction, the US Justice Department recently restored Gibson's gun rights.",
  "summary": "LOS ANGELES, Sept 1 — Mel Gibson has apologised after footage of him appearing to mock an American Sign Language (...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}