Mel Gibson Says Sorry After Mocking Sign Language Interpreter at Fan Expo

Mel Gibson has apologized after drawing criticism for appearing to mimic a sign language interpreter during his appearance at Fan Expo Canada in Toronto.

The Oscar-winning actor took the stage on Aug. 29 for a Q&A session titled “From Braveheart to Mad Max.” Video footage showed Gibson making hand gestures that appeared to imitate the American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter standing nearby. The clip quickly spread online, prompting viewers to criticize Gibson and call the gesture disrespectful to the Deaf community.

Gibson addressed the backlash in a written statement on Monday, Aug. 31. He described the incident as a spontaneous lapse in judgment rather than a deliberate attempt to offend.

“Sometimes when you get pushed out on a stage in a spotlight your mind is all over the place, and sometimes spontaneous thoughtless idiocy is displayed,” Gibson said. He added that there was “no intended maliciousness” behind his actions and apologized to anyone he offended.

Gibson appeared to mimic the interpreter’s hand movements as he walked onto the stage before taking his seat. The footage soon gained traction across social media.

Many users condemned the gesture and described it as insensitive. Others debated whether Gibson intended it as a joke. However, the criticism continued to grow as more people shared the video.

Instead of dismissing the controversy, Gibson acknowledged what happened and offered an apology. At the same time, he maintained that he did not intend to act maliciously.

The incident overshadowed what was otherwise a career-focused appearance.

Moderator Liam Crowley led Gibson through a discussion about some of his biggest films, including Mad Max, Braveheart and Lethal Weapon. Gibson also discussed his career behind the camera and several upcoming projects.

Much of the conversation focused on The Resurrection of the Christ, Gibson’s planned follow-up to his 2004 biblical drama The Passion of the Christ.

Gibson plans to tell the story across two films. The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One is currently scheduled for May 2027, while Part Two is expected to arrive in May 2028.

Despite the controversies that have followed him throughout his career, Gibson continues to work in Hollywood.

He remains attached to upcoming projects including the thriller The Canyon and the series Coyote. He is also continuing development on his two-part Passion of the Christ sequel.

For now, Gibson is attempting to move past the Fan Expo controversy with an apology. By describing his actions as “thoughtless idiocy” and stressing that he had no malicious intent, the actor has directly addressed the criticism surrounding the incident.