Jodie Foster Shooed Mel Gibson Away From 'Beaver' Premiere; Missed Opportunity?
Mel Gibson was noticeably absent from the South by Southwest Film Festival last night when 'The Beaver,' his long-delayed dark comedy directed by friend Jodie Foster, premiered to an excited audience. While Jodie was singing his praises on the red carpet, Mel took the evening off to
get booked in his criminal battery case, but I'm told that even if he wasn't doing some housekeeping, the film's top brass didn't want the guy there.
"Having him attend was just going to be too big of a risk. He could have gotten booed on the red carpet before the film even began," an insider tells me. "Everyone including Jodie decided it would be better if Mel didn't attend."
I'm told Jodie and the film's producers were jittery about the prospect of the audience heckling the sight of Mel appearing on the screen, though that turned out to be silliness because by all accounts, festival-goers loved the flick.
"Jodie got up and introduced the film and got a huge round of applause, but that didn't mean the film executives were not sweating what would happen the first time Mel came on screen."
The beloved actress-director flew into Austin for the screening and to answer questions after the film, where it was very obvious to everyone attending that everyone was nervous. Fortunately for them, no one booed, and now there's rampant second-guessing going on as to whether they missed an opportunity to give Mel a brief morale boost after months of (deservedly) horrid press.
Jodie did do her best to prop her friend up and was asked some very direct questions following the screening, including if the delay in the film's release was because of Mel's recent troubles.
"I was very lucky to work with him (Mel) and have him as part of the movie," Jodie answered. "No regrets at all having him in the movie."
Let's see if the public outside the insiders attending the festival are as forgiving.
Thank Al Pacino for Pretty Woman
Mad Men: 'Chevy Is Spelled Wrong!'
Add a comment
Mel will B back on Top Soon just wait.
Reply
I support Mel 100%, Jodie Foster sucks on this one.
Reply
How can you trash Jodie on this? She has been one of Mel's top supporters, giving him an acting role when no one else would do it. She just knows she cannot control the media circus that surrounds him.
If you are going to be a supporter of his you don't cut him off at the legs like she did at the premier. That is a friend I don't need.
Strange bedfellows,Foster and Gibson,especially with his ingrained homophobia .
Reply
Srt8 guys like Mel don't have problems w/ lesbians.
Only if their in porno stu, no problem .
Should anyone be continuously chastised and never forgiven for their problems? The guy has had a meltdown during a very emotional time in his life. Let the guy try to move on and let's try to be a more forgiving society. Or is that something that the tabloids don't want and won't allow? Or does it simply make evryone else feel a little better about themselves because they've never gone off the deep end like that? In any case, forgive and try to forget. If he has another period where he has trouble hadling everyday problems, let him seek help with a qualified caregiver and put life into a better perspective.
Reply
Hollywood is so backwards! They can't wait to show their support for Roman Polanski (who raped and sodomized a minor) and praise him every chance they get yet Hollywood is so unforgiving of Mel Gibson whose poor behavior was no where near that of Polanski.
Reply
Jodie Foster Shooed Mel Gibson Away From Her 'Beaver'. Well of course she did, she's a lesbo, duh!
Reply
Now thats fkn funny..............
Why don't we all quit condemning Mel and start to pray for him. Why is it that everyone thinks condemnation is the way to go. I for one pray that Mel can put his life and career back together again. He is one of the most talented people in Hollywood and it would be more of a crime to never experience his work again. And for Jody, BRAVO!!! you are just as exceptional a human being as you are a talent. It never ceases to amaze me how someone like Alex Baldwin can spew the things he did about his own daughter and everyone forgives and forgets. Oh, I forgot, Alex is one of the Hollywood elete, A LIBERAL!!!!! What a two-faced profession this is. MEL I LOVE YOU AND PRAY THAT ONCE AGAIN YOU WILL BE ON TOP. IN A PROFESSION WHERE MOST OF THE STARS ARE DOING CRAP, EVEN UNDER TERRIBLE STRESS YOU CAN PRODUCE BEAUTIFUL WORK. LOVE YOU!!!
Reply
I want to add that I do see Mel Gibson as the victim in this. It is obvious this was a set up because things fell apart for them after she had drained his bank account. Her timing is too perfect. I do believe with Mel having quit smoking he was ripe for the picking. He has other issues which are not easily overlooked and I won't overlook them but in this issue with the sleaze in question, he is the victim. Worse, his daughter has been nothing more than a cash cow for her mother from the beginning. At least Mel looks at her as a baby and his daughter.
Reply
mel gibson is a nobody he just thinks he is something
Reply
"He could have gotten booed on the red carpet before the film even began,"
I don't think he really cares and they act like being booed is the worst thing in the world. I personally enjoyed his movies and Jodie is a great actress, could care less about her sexuality.
Reply
Love Mel, can't wait to see the movie. Can't believe people will condemn him but a Roman Polanski and Woody Allen two sick perverts are held up with great accolades. What a sick world!!!!
Reply
If the audience loved the flick so much and were excited about it, then why was there a concern about Mel's presence and his getting booed off the red carpet?
Why don't Mel Gibson and Charlie Sheen make a movie together called "Lethal Mouth Weapons"?
Reply
No one is denying that Mel Gibson was a great actor and producer and brought to the screen some of the most memorable and entertaining movies of all time, but when you cross over the line and bring in father-induced-demoms, coupled with mid-life crisis and saturate all of that with booze, you lose perspective, and sink into a mental-state filled with a conglomerate of predjudices which produces victims. ... It's probably best that Mel rests on his laurels,divote his life to charitable work, and try to make peace with himself .
Reply
Mel Gibson is my favorite actor of all time. I can watch mad max,lethal weapon all of them and all his other movies including the pasion of the christ. He got drunk and said some awful things. Most addicts do.It is not our job to judge him. Everyone makes mistakes. Just look in the mirror!
Reply
Mel Gibson is an anti-semite piece of trash. And a wife beater as well. Nasty.
Reply