Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Ranting, sexist Mel Gibson not "What Women Want"
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Asia Pacific
World
Ranting, sexist Mel Gibson not "What Women Want"
Reuters - Wednesday, July 14
Send
IM Story
Print
Actor Mel Gibson poses during a photocall for the film "Edge of Darkness" by director Martin Campbell in Paris, in this February 4, 2010 file photo.
By Jill Serjeant
LOS ANGELES - In 1985, Mel Gibson was declared People magazine's first ever "Sexiest Man Alive". Ten years ago, women flocked to see him in "What Women Want" playing a chauvinistic executive who finds he can read the female mind.
But in the last week, tape recordings apparently with the Oscar-winning actor ranting and cursing his ex-girlfriend in angry tirades that included racial and sexist slurs have shocked and alienated his female fans, media watchers say.
Yet unlike public condemnation from movie industry big-wigs over Gibson's drunken anti-Semitic outburst in 2006, there has been little official comment about his misogynist tirade -- a reflection, some say, of lack of female clout in Hollywood.
"It is shocking to hear from this man, who has such charm and seeming intelligence in his film roles, but has emerged as a dastardly anti-hero," said HollywoodLife.com editor Bonnie Fuller. "Guess what? Mel doesn't know 'what women want'."
Celebrity website RadarOnline.com on Tuesday made public a third expletive-laced phone call said to be between Gibson, 54, and Oksana Grigorieva, 40, the mother of his eight month-old daughter. The pair are locked in a bitter court battle.
Gibson's representatives have declined to comment on the tapes, nor have they denied the widespread reports that it is the "Braveheart" actor talking. Los Angeles sheriffs have launched a domestic violence probe into allegations that Gibson punched Grigorieva in the face in January, breaking her tooth.
In the tapes, the enraged voice said to be Gibson calls Grigorieva a "whore," a "mentally deprived idiot" and a "pig in heat," among many of comments that are laced with expletives. He also takes racist jabs at Latinos and African-Americans.
Yet the media coverage and any public outrage have focused more on the damage to Gibson's career, and his racist slurs, than his sexist invective.
While some industry watchers have said his career will survive given his financial ability to fund his own projects -- as he did with his "The Passion of the Christ" -- there seems little doubt that many of the women who once admired Gibson will now leave him behind.
"I've had a lot of people who are professionals in the industry say to me that when you alienate women, they never come back," said Kim Masters, editor-at-large of trade publication The Hollywood Reporter.
Joy Behar, one of the hosts of female TV chat show "The View" said on Tuesday that Gibson was not welcome there because he was an anti-Semite and a racist. Fellow "View" host, actress Whoopi Goldberg, defended Gibson against charges of racism.
"Mel Gibson has become a persona non grata throughout Hollywood. But not because of how he treats women," said Melissa Silverstein, who runs the Women & Hollywood blog.
"People should be talking about the anti-women stuff as much as they talk about the racist stuff," she said.
Silverstein noted that while Sony Pictures co-chairman Amy Pascal and talent agent Ari Emanuel denounced Gibson for his anti-Semitic rant in 2006, there have been no public statements this time around from major Hollywood players.
"It is indicative of where women are in Hollywood," Silverstein said. "It's about power, and the boys have it."
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary Reuters - 2 hours 48 minutes ago
Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz wed in Bahamas Reuters - 2 hours 48 minutes ago
Peter Jackson meeting with "Hobbit" actors Reuters - Wednesday, July 14
Steinbrenner relished wacky depiction on Seinfeld Reuters - Wednesday, July 14
Michael Jackson fans graffiti his tomb AFP - Wednesday, July 14
News Search
Top Stories
US trade deficit widens to 18-month high
Obama vows to cut HIV cases with new AIDS strategy
Mel Gibson takes aim at Hispanics in fresh rant
'Barefoot bandit' deported back to the US
Yankees owner Steinbrenner dies
More Top Stories »
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Mel Gibson takes aim at Hispanics in fresh rant
'Abducted' Iran scientist surfaces in US
US scientists create cloth that can listen
Italian police arrest 300 in major blow to Calabrian mafia
US trade deficit widens to 18-month high
More Most Viewed »
Reclusive top mathematician turns down prize, again
Germany's 'Octopus oracle' keeps perfect record
Amputee cat gets bionic legs
Fans gather for Michael Jackson death anniversary
Who's right - the dolphin or the octopus?
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Wednesday, 14 July 2010 Rogue Afghan soldier kills three British Gurkhas
Russia still holding swapped spies: reports
Gays more frequent blog readers, social network users
Cuban dissidents arrive in Spain hailing 'new stage'
Netanyahu-Mubarak talks postponed again
US-TECH Summary
Italian police arrest 300 in major blow to Calabrian mafia
Apple shares slide as iPhone 4 concerns grow
Vanished Iranian scientist turns up in Washington
Three hurt in Spanish bull run
Sarkozy rejects scandal, pushes pension reform
Libyan aid ship asks to dock in Egypt, not Gaza
Apple shares slide on iPhone problems
Lebanon court hands death sentence to spy for Israel
|
Lebanon court hands death sentence to spy for Israel
U.S. judge clears trial for ex-Guantanamo detainee
|
Vaseline launches skin-whitening Facebook app for India
Afghan soldier kills three Gurkhas
Key US Senate panel backs 'libel tourism' bill
Venezuela hands suspected Colombia drug lord to U.S.
|
"Anatolian tigers" go where Turkey's diplomacy leads
Greeks head for love online: study
Nigerian sect leader praises al Qaeda, warns U.S.
|
Asif treble rocks Australia in first Test
107 dead in China rainstorms and floods: state media
Evans yellow jersey ambitions dashed on Madeleine
China's elderly population leapt in 2009: state media
Fiji expels Australian envoy for 'unfriendly acts'
'Abducted' Iran scientist surfaces in US
Australia shrugs off Timor refugee snub
Michelin picks Chicago as third US go-to destination
Apple shares slide as iPhone 4 concerns grow
|
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Court strikes down FCC indecency policy
eBay sued for $3.8 billion in PayPal patent case
|
New stars begin to shine in Bollywood
Water taxi set to sail to rescue of gridlocked Beirut
Vaseline launches skin-whitening Facebook India app
South Korea's Ssangyong extends bid deadline
U2 reschedules N.America tour
Japan's Uniqlo joins Grameen Bank to help poor in Bangladesh
Japan's Nomura to list $100 mln Sukuk on Malaysia bourse
Court strikes down FCC indecency policy
|
Glee writers drop hints about season No. 2
|
Filipina singer Charice sees courtroom as next stage
|
Russia and Iran sign energy cooperation pact
Iran scientist heading home via third country: ISNA
|
Rioters hurl petrol bombs in new N.Ireland unrest
Shooting attacks hit Yemen, al Qaeda blamed
|
Seven killed in Egypt building collapse
Clampdown rumoured as China "twitter" sites down
French lawmakers approve full veil ban
Uganda finds suicide vest, makes several arrests
|
US trade deficit widens to 18-month high
China stops funding Green Dam web filter: report
Libyan aid ship loiters in waters off Gaza: Israel
|
Obama vows to cut HIV cases with new AIDS strategy
Afghan hunt rogue soldier after British killings
Intel posts 'best quarter' ever
Cuba frees prisoners, but Fidel steals spotlight
|
Mel Gibson takes aim at Hispanics in fresh rant
Suicide attack kills Afghan policeman in Kandahar
Microsoft adds Facebook to Outlook
Japan eyes spending cuts to meet budget goal
|
Turncoat Afghan soldier kills 3 British troopers
Deadly typhoon cuts power in Manila, aims at China
|
'Barefoot bandit' deported back to the US
Venezuela hands suspected Colombia drug lord to U.S.
|
Amazon storm killed half a billion trees: study
|
Yankees owner Steinbrenner dies
At least 60 in hospital after Mumbai gas leak
Vaseline launches skin-whitening Facebook app for India
Tests blame some Toyota accidents on drivers
'Abducted' Iran scientist surfaces in US
Malaysian police stumble upon illegal 'zoo' in car raid
Wall Street overhaul on track for final approval
'Abducted' Iran scientist leaves US for Tehran
N.Korea to hold talks with UN Command on sinking
20 dead after Typhoon Conson hits Philippines
'Abducted' Iran scientist surfaces in US
Study calls for greater care to 'quality of death'
U.S. deports another person in Russian spy probe
Laos, US in highest contact since Vietnam War
Vietnam's Mekong paddies dry up
U.S. says Somali al Shabaab seen behind Uganda bombings
China web filter developer's finance woes: report
Clampdown rumoured as China twitter sites down
|
China stops funding Green Dam web filter: report
|
Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz wed in Bahamas
Seoul shares post 25-mth closing high on techs
Taiwan stocks at 2-mth closing high; Intel lifts TSMC, Acer
Peter Jackson meeting with "Hobbit" actors
China admits more tainted milk found in February
Steinbrenner relished wacky depiction on Seinfeld
Tests blame some Toyota accidents on drivers
Michael Jackson fans graffiti his tomb
S.Korean mobile carrier to allow Internet calls
Ranting, sexist Mel Gibson not "What Women Want"
PAKISTAN
Roman Polanski lawyers call for misconduct inquiry
S.Korea urges price-fighting steps; jobless rate up
US court orders review of broadcasting indecency rule
Filipina singer Charice sees courtroom as next stage
WRAPUP 1-New Zealand retail sales back slow pace of rate rises
Seoul shares post 25-mth closing high on techs
South Korea's jobless rate rises in June
Ranting, sexist Mel Gibson not What Women Want
|
Steinbrenner relished wacky depiction on Seinfeld
|
Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz wed in Bahamas
|
Peter Jackson meeting with Hobbit actors
|
German Credit Suisse branches raided in tax probe
Apps That Change The World
Afghan attacks kill 8 US soldiers in 24 hours
Credit Suisse branches raided in German tax probe
Pakistan ISI behind Mumbai attacks: India official
|
EU clears major tie-ups in ailing airline sector
5 more American troops die in Afghan attacks
Four NATO soldiers killed in Afghan bomb attack
|
Suicide bomber involved in Uganda blast: official
3 US troops die in attack on Kandahar police HQ
Centre-left rise in German state underlines Merkel woes
|
3 NATO troops die in attack on Kandahar police HQ
Tiger-rescue plan to be drawn up in Indonesia
Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem tie the knot
Drunk Russians drown escaping heatwave
|
Suspected S.Africa Terre'blanche killer out on bail
|
China landslide deaths rise to 41
Australia 253 all out against Pakistan
Indian FM to press Pakistan on Mumbai probe in talks
China's AIDS activists face uphill struggle
E.Timor deputy PM rejects Australian asylum fix
S.Korean legalises euthanasia for terminally ill
eBay sued for $3.8 billion in PayPal patent case
|
Japan killer mum 'spun child in washing machine'
Indonesia to ask internet providers to block porn
|
Sanyo launches first rice bread cooker
Britain the best place to die: global study
Fan's pictures of Beatles going on sale in Britain
Pakistani stocks end up; rupee firms; o/n rates flat
China plans to approve Nokia's web mapping service
Jailed rapper Lil Wayne to release EP in September
India's double-digit inflation inches higher
Behind The Booze Brands
Celebrity Charities: Good For Image, But What About Good Works?
Foreign firms in China go west to beat wage hikes
Vegas' Perfect Poolside Dining
Jailed rapper Lil Wayne to release EP in September
|
Pakistan bans Indian film with Bin Laden lookalike
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights