Mel Gibson desperately denies Winona Ryder’s claims of homophobia and antisemitism as he’s ‘axed’ from Chicken Run sequel
Mel Gibson has fervently denied the allegations by Winona Ryder (Hollywood To You/Star Max/GC Images/Leon Bennet)
Mel Gibson has reportedly been dropped from Netflix’s Chicken Run sequel following Winona Ryder’s claims he made extreme antisemitic and homophobic remarks.
Gibson, 64, will not be taking on the voice of Rocky in the sequel of the 20-year-old classic movie, according to film sources who spoke to The Wrap.
The offensive comments, which he is accused of making at a Hollywood party in 1995, resurfaced in an interview with Winona Ryder on June 21.
The Stranger Things star was asked by The Sunday Times if she had experienced antisemitism in the television and film industry.
She went on to recount a conversation with Mel Gibson at a party where he allegedly approached Ryder and asked, in reference to her Jewish heritage, “You’re not an oven dodger, are you?”
She says he then turned to her gay friend, saying: “Oh wait, am I gonna get AIDS?”
Ryder had previously referenced the shocking encounter in a 2010 interview with GQ, and said that Gibson later “tried” to apologise for his remarks.
But Gibson himself stringently denies everything, with a representative accusing the actress of “lying”.
Mel Gibson in 1995 at the ‘Braveheart’ premiere (S. Granitz/WireImage/Getty)
“This is 100 per cent untrue,” the rep said via Variety on Tuesday. “She lied about it over a decade ago, when she talked to the press, and she’s lying about it now.
“Also, she lied about him trying to apologise to her back then. He did reach out to her, many years ago, to confront her about her lies and she refused to address it with him.”
Ryder stands by her words, and has since replied to Gibson’s denial in a statement that reveals her gay friend at the party was the acclaimed makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin.
“I believe in redemption and forgiveness and hope that Mr Gibson has found a healthy way to deal with his demons, but I am not one of them,” she said.
“Around 1996, my friend Kevyn Aucoin and I were on the receiving end of his hateful words. It is a painful and vivid memory for me. Only by accepting responsibility for our behaviour in this life, can we make amends and truly respect each other, and I wish him well on this lifelong journey.”
