News & Politics - Mel Gibson accussed of racial stereotyping of Mayans

rose parade · 03-23-2007, 11:57 AM

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TMZ has learned Mel Gibson exploded in anger last night on a college campus after an expert on Mayan culture accussed him of racially stereotyping the Mayans in the movie "Apocalypto."

It happened last night at Cal State University at Northridge in the San Fernando Valley. Gibson was speaking to a film class about his movies, and several members of the Mayan community came to hear the famous director.

After Gibson's presentation, the crowd was allowed to ask questions. Alicia Estrada, an Assistant Professor of Central American Studies at CSUN, challenged Gibson, asking him if he had read about the Mayan culture before shooting the controversial film. Gibson said he had.

Estrada persisted, stating that representations in the movie that the Mayans engaged in sacrificial ceremonies and had bloodthirsty tendencies were both wrong and racist. Estrada and others tell TMZ that Gibson exploded in anger, responding, "Lady, ****** off."

We're told Gibson also became extremely angry when members of the Mayan community protested on how they were portrayed in the film. The emotional Mayan members were escorted out of the room, and we're told Gibson screamed a parting shot -- "Make your own movie!"

source

I never saw the movie so I'm not sure. But Lady ******* off? That's mature, Mel.

Jacob1983 · 03-23-2007, 12:52 PM

Honestly, who freakin cares? Isn't this story a little late too? Apocalypto came out back in December. It's just fishy to me that they are now just complaining about the movie.

~*katinthehat*~ · 03-23-2007, 01:04 PM

Mel Gibson doesn't seem to respect people who do not share his views. I never saw the movie because it did not interest me in anyway.

rose parade · 03-23-2007, 02:04 PM

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Honestly, who freakin cares? Isn't this story a little late too? Apocalypto came out back in December. It's just fishy to me that they are now just complaining about the movie.

Prolly because Mel was at CSun last night and went crazy and told someone to F off.

migamoo · 03-23-2007, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacob1983 (View Post)

It's just fishy to me that they are now just complaining about the movie.

I think it was a screening of the movie at the college Thursday. But there were small tidbits about the movie being historically wrong when it came out. It may have not been major news stories, but they were around.

But, I agree with you Kat. Mel does not seem to think anyone else's views are worth his time, even if those views are facts.

rose parade · 03-23-2007, 03:30 PM

He needs anger management.

S.A.S.H.A. · 03-23-2007, 07:16 PM

Love how TMZ blew this thing out of proportion making Mel appear like some tyrant.

This has been on local news, and those that were present say Mel handled the situation well considering the circumstances.

Estrada is demanding an apology, "not only to me but to the Central American program at CSUN, to the university and most importantly to the Mayan people and Mayan community."

Sasha

Ashleigh · 03-24-2007, 05:36 AM

That ain't the first time those accusations against Mel have been brought up, but most people are rational and don't try to pick a fight. Still, Mel is nuts.

**sunnykerr** · 03-25-2007, 05:41 AM

On the other hand, Mel's just an actor (and, apparently, a bit of a crazy one at that). His camp said the woman was a heckler. Maybe he just didn't know how to handle being heckled in a professional manner.

By the way, this isn't me defeding Mel Gibson. This is me saying he may just be too childish, too unprofessional and too insane to be able to handle people disagreeing with him in public.

elisheva · 03-28-2007, 04:13 PM

I've heard both sides of thos news story

Either way, whether the woman was just an out of control heckler or not, the things I heard about the movie certainly did seem to be not all that great in terms of portraying Mayans (and in terms of basic history). Still, it's Mel Gibson, what do you expect?

Jacob1983 · 03-29-2007, 11:17 AM

TMZ is a joke. I can't stand that organization. They make a living off ruin celebs' lives. I know that celebrities are under a microscope in our society but they're still human beings.

rose parade · 03-29-2007, 06:36 PM

Okkkkay. Then how come you said that T.R. Knight...

you know what, nevermind.

~*katinthehat*~ · 03-30-2007, 05:47 AM

Ashley~ Thank you, i am glad i am not the only one to see that. I do not know Mel but from what i see he seems arrogant and stuck up. But who am i to judge someone i do not know?

The media loves to speculate on everything and take a story and enlarge it. I don't know who is right or wrong but from a friend the movie did not do justice to the mayans.

fetch · 04-06-2007, 03:43 AM

Are we surprised?

JohannafromIHJ · 04-06-2007, 09:03 AM

Looks to me like Gibson is flirting with rather outdated theories about the Mayan people, so I can see why someone who's dedicated a lot of her time and career to the study of this people and its culture would get a little miffed. However, as I see it, Gibson is completely truthful when he said he did "read up" on the subject -- he just chose the most gory, flashy version, irregardless of its ties to actual reality, so that he could make yet another stomach-turning hack-n-slash flick. This time, however, he knew he couldn't use Jews for bad guys again, so he grabbed the next best thing -- a group that is not likely to be defended by critics in the West. His goal, I believe, was never to give a truthful, fair, or historically correct portrayal of the Maya, but rather use them as a way to push his love for gore and pain on people, with a dash of omg-society-is-falling-apart-because-not-everyone-is-a-die-hard-fundamental-Christian thrown in for good measure. I mean, we're talking about a film that ends with the arrival of the first Europeans (who murdered millions of natives) being portrayed as the arrival of salvation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by S.A.S.H.A. (View Post)

Estrada is demanding an apology, "not only to me but to the Central American program at CSUN, to the university and most importantly to the Mayan people and Mayan community."

Yes, goodness me, how can they demand an apology for having their history used as a vehicle for Mel Gibson's nuttiness and bloodthirst.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacob1983 (View Post)

I know that celebrities are under a microscope in our society but they're still human beings.

Unless they're gay, of course.


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