Mel Gibson's Latest Ballistic Episode

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright July 16, 2010
All Rights Reserved.                                

             Mel Gibson’s latest ballistic episode involving his girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, where the 40-year-old actress-singer claims the star of “Braveheart” allegedly throttled her and injured their 2-month-old baby girl, opens up a can of worms.  Whether the baby was actually injured by Gibson is anyone’s guess.  But one more ballistic episode doesn’t help the 54-year-old actor-director-producer’s credibility.  It wasn’t that long ago when Gibson was arrested July 28, 2006 for DUI with an open container, calling the arresting officer James Mee a “f---ing Jew” among other vile things.  While Gibson underwent a First-Offenders Program, it’s clear, based on the latest incident, that there’s there’s unfinished business with his drinking and mental health, something known as co-morbidity.  Recemt recordings of Gibson going berserk, spewing unspeakable profanity tell very little.

            Los Angeles County Dept. of Children and Family Services, AKA, child protective services, opened up an investigation into potential child abuse.  “They will be analyzed and reviewed,” said LA County Sheriff spokesman Steve Whitmore, referring to the embarrassing recordings.  No matter how distasteful the recordings, they don’t, by themselves, constitute child or domestic abuse.  When police try to ascertain child or domestic abuse, it requires more than rage and foul language.  While verbal rants don’t reflect favorably on alleged perpetrators, they also don’t constitute domestic or child abuse.  “We want to speak to everyone involved in the case, including Mel Gibson.  There has been no objections from his representatives so far,” said Whitmore, reluctant to speculate on the charges.  While the media has a field day with the tapes, there are few conclusions that can be reached.

            Gibson’s criminal defense attorney Blair Berk was quick to neutralize the media feeding frenzy burning up the Internet and tabloid Web sites.  “Mel was a wonderful and loving father,” wrote his soon-to-be ex-wife Robyn, attesting to Gibson’s upstanding character.  “I don’t have any f----ing money.  I have to support you and everybody else.  I have to sell paintings.  I have to sell my box seats at the Lakers game,” Gibson complains on the tape.  “I spent too much g—damn money on you, and my wife knows,” reacting angrily but saying little about whether the star of “Lethal Weapon” engaged in child or domestic abuse.  Spewing racial epithets or offensive language—no matter how revolting—doesn’t qualify as child or domestic abuse.  Gibson’s foul language, racial and ethnic slurs, sexist profanity doesn’t constitute child or domestic abuse, though reflect poorly on his character.

            Oksana’s careful Jan 6 tape recordings of the incident raise the possibility of a set-up or extortion plan.  Visiting dentist Dr. Ross Sheldon soon after the Jan. 6 incident, there’s no definitive proof that Gibson punched his girlfriend in the mouth.  Visting Dr. Sheldon, Oksana complained of a chipped porcelain veneer.  Sheldon couldn’t say whether she was punched directly in the face or whether she bit down and caused the veneer to dislodge.  Carefully recorded tapes indicate, at the very least, that Oksana sought to document the incident for her advantage.  Locked in a bitter custody dispute, evidence of domestic or child abuse sway judges determining child custody arrangements.  When the tapes surfaced this week on RadarOnline.com, it raised questions whether it were leaked by Oksana’s attorneys.  Domestic or child abuse allegations are common in custody battles.

            Winning the PR battle, Oksana’s attorneys have Gibson on the run, with few people showing sympathy for the erratic actor.  Gibson won a loyal following from the Christian right for his 2004 film, “The Passion of the Christ.”  While some critics viewed the film as anti-Semitic, blaming Jews for murder of Christ, others dismissed the idea as unfounded paranoia.  When Gibson’s 2006 DUI arrest resulted in a public tirade against Jews, the film’s critics said, “I told you so.”  Whatever happens with Gibson’s latest episode, it’s more clear than ever that he has anger management problems, more than likely exacerbated by alcohol.  Getting himself into so much hot water shows that, at the very least, Gibson can’t control his temper.  Oksana’s meticulous documentation suggests that she was using the tapes to substantiate a child and domestic abuse claim to help her custody battle.

            Reports by the celebrity Web site TMZ, though not verified, indicate that Oskana’s attorney sought a $10 million settlement from the mentally troubled actor.  Given his stormy relationship and propensity toward ballistic behavior, Gibson was probably provoked into a rage, recorded and set up to look bad in his ongoing child custody battle.  Restraining orders, child and domestic abuse reports, typically go hand-in-hand with child custody battles.  Gibson’s past or current tirades—no matter how distasteful—don’t qualify as child or domestic abuse.  Oksana may be winning the PR battle but she may have overplayed her hand by leaking her secret Jan. 6 recordings to  the tabloids.  Trying cases in the media can backfire by exposing hardball tactics.  Gibson’s Hollywood career may be down the tubes but his current legal battles are far from over.

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.