An interview with Mel Gibson abruptly ended after Fox News host Jesse Watters asked the Hollywood star to respond to the scandal surrounding Will Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock at the Academy Awards.
Nearly five minutes into the exchange, which aired shortly after Smith resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Friday, Watters popped the question of what Gibson thinks would have happened to him if he were the one who slapped Rock.
“I was wondering if, you know, you had been the one that jumped up out of his seat and slapped Chris Rock, if you would have been treated the same way, Mel?” Watters asked.
Smith slapped Rock onstage after the comedian, who was hosting the awards show, made a joke mocking the bald appearance of his wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith, who has alopecia. Smith has since apologized.
JOURNALIST TAYLOR LORENZ BREAKS DOWN IN TEARS DISCUSSING ‘HORRIFYING’ ONLINE HARASSMENT
A grimacing Gibson did not respond to the question, instead lifting a hand and shaking his head, appearing to signal that he would not answer. That’s when a female voice interrupted to tell Watters their time was up.
Exclusive one-on-one with Mel Gibson #FoxNews pic.twitter.com/C13wogYZSm
— Jesse Watters Primetime (@jesseprimetime) April 1, 2022
Watters repeated the question but was again cut off by a female voice.
“Um, I’m — thank you, Jesse. Uh, we — that is our time,” the voice said. Watters then thanked Gibson for his time and shared the release date for the actor’s new movie. Gibson appeared to hear that, waving goodbye and saying, “Thank you.”
Gibson, who is no stranger to controversy, was promoting his newest film, Father Stu, which is based on the true story of Stuart Long, a boxer who became a Catholic priest. Mark Wahlberg is starring in the titular role.
“Everyone’s got a boulder, man,” Gibson said in addressing one of the themes of the movie. “Something’s going to come and knock you down at some point in your life. Now. Later. And how do you stand up from that, you know? How do you not only stand up, but how do you find a purpose in that? There’s a purpose for all of this. So it’s looking for that purpose.”
He also said another takeaway is “it’s never too late to fix stuff.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The film, distributed by Sony Pictures, opens on April 13.
