Mel Gibson

On Joe Rogan's podcast, Gibson claimed to know people with stage 4 cancer who had reportedly recovered after taking ivermectin and fenbendazole, among other substances. Fact-checkers and specialists emphasised the absence of clinical evidence supporting the presentation of these products as established cancer treatments.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Personally implicated

At Fan Expo Canada in Toronto, Gibson made gestures behind an ASL interpreter that were widely perceived as a mocking imitation. The video prompted criticism online and in the media.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Winona Ryder publicly reiterated that, in the mid-1990s, Gibson had allegedly made an antisemitic remark to her and a homophobic comment about make-up artist Kevyn Aucoin.

Attribution

Accused

Screenwriter Joe Eszterhas accused Gibson of making further antisemitic remarks and sabotaging a project about the Maccabees. Another audio recording revealed an angry tirade by Gibson during a meeting, renewing criticism of his behaviour.

Attribution

Accused

Gibson pleaded no contest to one count of misdemeanour battery relating to an incident involving Grigorieva and was sentenced to three years' probation, counselling sessions and other requirements, without immediate imprisonment.

Attribution

Accused

Recordings attributed to Gibson, released during his acrimonious separation from Oksana Grigorieva, contained racist and sexist insults, threats and passages referring to physical violence. Los Angeles police investigated allegations of domestic violence.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Arrested in Malibu for drink-driving, Gibson made a widely reported antisemitic tirade during his arrest. He subsequently pleaded no contest to the driving offence and received a probation sentence.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Apocalypto was criticised for its violence and what was seen as a sensationalised portrayal of the Maya, with several historians and descendants arguing that it reinforced an image of an inherently bloodthirsty civilisation and compressed distinct historical periods.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Before and after the release of The Passion of the Christ, Jewish organisations, academics and critics argued that certain narrative choices could reinforce anti-Jewish stereotypes or place excessive responsibility for the crucifixion on Jewish authorities.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

In an interview with El País, Gibson made disparaging remarks about gay people and refused to apologise immediately, statements that sparked protests and continued to follow him for years.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

While filming in Canada, Gibson was involved in a car accident after drinking alcohol. The case resulted in a three-month driving ban in Ontario, an early incident in his personal life frequently recalled in retrospective accounts of his controversies.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated