# What would it take for Mel Gibson to be redeemed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 21, 2010, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-mel-gibson-to-be-redeemed/547453 "2010-07-21T12:12:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-mel-gibson-to-be-redeemed/547453/21 "2010-07-21T21:36:49Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Taking care of his alcoholisms & womanizing is essential. It would probably help if Mel became active in a real church that he doesn’t own & has a history older than 50 years. I don’t know what will redeem him in the eyes of the public, but the best thing for him personally would to become involved in a non-fringe church and get some real spiritual accountability – which would include treatment for his alcohol problem. Is he even involved in that Catholic off-shoot church anymore? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-mel-gibson-to-be-redeemed/547453/22 "2010-07-21T21:38:34Z")
Have a brain tumor removed? Honestly, I’ve seen so many internet diagnoses of tumor/brain disease-induced-rage prompted by this case. It’s unsettling. I mean, I suppose anything’s possible, but to jump to that conclusion over, well, whatever’s behind the millions of other cases like this… ---
**Author:** ![Fair\_Rarity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fair_rarity/32/153_2.png) [@Fair\_Rarity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fair_Rarity)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-mel-gibson-to-be-redeemed/547453/23 "2010-07-22T00:20:06Z")
For me, I can’t imagine anything he could do that would induce me to watch one of his movies for free on tv, much less actually pay for a dvd or a theater ticket. I don’t think he’s good enough of an actor to pretend to be remorseful and changed. The only chance he has to win over some people who are furious with him now is to actually change, and people like him really don’t, as they don’t see that they have a problem. Even then, he’ll be redeemed to some people, but I don’t know if he can ever redeem himself enough to not be an OJ-level live wire. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-mel-gibson-to-be-redeemed/547453/24 "2010-07-22T03:13:13Z")
All of life’s problems due to social ostricization can be solved by saving a 4 year old from a fire/lake/tree house accident. Dear America, This Little girl Little boy Puppy was Drowning On fire Dehydrated Abused Other and I Performed first aid Contacted authorities Obtained medical help Because I love people The end ---
**Author:** ![Boomslangblood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Boomslangblood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boomslangblood)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-mel-gibson-to-be-redeemed/547453/25 "2010-07-22T04:55:25Z")
I don’t understand why people care so much about Mel Gibson’s life they should care more about what movie he will be working on next or not care at all. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-mel-gibson-to-be-redeemed/547453/26 "2010-07-22T05:13:29Z")
People have come back from pretty bad PR disasters where they actions are beyond the pale. Woody Allen married on one of the (non-related kids his ex-SO had adopted. Few care these days. Ted Kennedy effectively killed a woman through his drunk driving - He was a hero to many at the end of his life. Robert Downey Jr. was a irredeemable, drug addicted mess for many years who many people had completely written off, now he’s a huge superstar. Roman Polanski was accused of molesting a drugged 13 year old. He’s well respected by many in Europe and elsewhere. Rush Limbaugh was massive prescription drug addict. Didn’t touch him. Michale Jackson was a creepy pedophile. People still loved him. George Michael was sucking strange men’s cocks in public restrooms, and now he’s back on TV. If Gibson can make great art or money or both he will still be relevant. If not then he fades away. Being successful in modernity gets you a pass on almost anything. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-mel-gibson-to-be-redeemed/547453/27 "2010-07-22T07:01:10Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Based on my study of other controversial figures who have managed to become beloved…dying would help. > > Also, raping someone and then taking a several decades long holiday in Europe. Maybe if Mel was able to rape Polanski we could award him points. Unless he can prove that he was extorted for money it’s tough to justify his rage. As for his religious/racial tirades I don’t see how he can dig out from that. He’s got a track record going. Every time he opens his mouth the quicksand rises a little more. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-mel-gibson-to-be-redeemed/547453/28 "2010-07-22T07:09:35Z")
> [@Cat\_Fight](#): > > Have a brain tumor removed? > > Honestly, I’ve seen so many internet diagnoses of tumor/brain disease-induced-rage prompted by this case. It’s unsettling. I mean, I suppose anything’s possible, but to jump to that conclusion over, well, whatever’s behind the millions of other cases like this… This. Whatever the cause - rampant alcoholism, closed head injury, brain tumor - there is something seriously wrong with this man’s brain. He managed for decades to present a positive image to the gossip-hungry public, and while much of the media might have passively conspired to keep his sins from the light of day, there would have been a few intrepid reporters/photographers dying to break the story. He may not be Phineas Gage, but somewhere along the line, his frontal lobes took a vicious beating and never recovered. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-mel-gibson-to-be-redeemed/547453/29 "2010-07-22T07:13:47Z")
> [@](#): > > What would it take for Mel Gibson to be redeemed? Presumably, the son of God being nailed to a cross. Oh, wait, he’s already used that one! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-mel-gibson-to-be-redeemed/547453/30 "2010-07-22T13:16:23Z")
He has nothing to be redeemed for professionally. If his family can’t forgive him his small goofs, they aren’t worth a damn. And who gives a damn about public opinion? Once there was a very popular Danish actress, Ingeborg Bruhn Berthelsen. In 1930, at the peak of her acting life a jealous girl (it was discovered later) that was in love with the actress’ friend, started a rumor that Ingeborg had sex with her St. Bernard Dog. The public enjoyed themselves with barking whenever the girl went on stage. In the end her acting career was ruined. Later she emigrated to the USA, where she settled in Madison, Wisconsin and worked as a seamstress. A famous Danish writer Poul Henningsen was inspired by the incident to write a revue which ended with the line: “Screw the public opinion!” Indeed. And what’s with this American obsession of making public excuses and amends. That’s a really lousy tradition. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-mel-gibson-to-be-redeemed/547453/31 "2010-07-22T15:16:29Z")
> [@Rune](#): > > And who gives a damn about public opinion? People whose livelihoods depend on others wanting to see and pay for their work. It’s a simple business decision–have my actions turned off people who otherwise pay for my work? If so, I need to do whatever it takes to get them to reconsider. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-mel-gibson-to-be-redeemed/547453/32 "2010-07-22T15:22:59Z")
> [@Rune](#): > > If his family can’t forgive him his small goofs, they aren’t worth a damn. I would hate to see what it would take for you to consider something a major mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-mel-gibson-to-be-redeemed/547453/33 "2010-07-22T22:52:00Z")
> [@phouka](#): > > This. > > Whatever the cause - rampant alcoholism, closed head injury, brain tumor - there is something seriously wrong with this man’s brain. He managed for decades to present a positive image to the gossip-hungry public, and while much of the media might have passively conspired to keep his sins from the light of day, there would have been a few intrepid reporters/photographers dying to break the story. > > He may not be Phineas Gage, but somewhere along the line, his frontal lobes took a vicious beating and never recovered. I’m starting to think the movie where he’s a violent/nutter cop involved no acting at all on his part. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-mel-gibson-to-be-redeemed/547453/34 "2010-07-23T17:51:26Z")
Its not the things that he’s said or done when he’s drunk that have put him beyond the pale, its the things that he’s planned and carried out when he’s sober, Sorry but nothing now can excuse his asshloery. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Call_Me_Shirley)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-mel-gibson-to-be-redeemed/547453/35 "2010-07-23T18:31:09Z")
> [@Lanzy](#): > > He needs to forsake god and give up the stupid shit his belief is causing. > [@FriarTed](#): > > Well, THAT’S constructive! Actually, yes, that is constructive. Probably the best advice so far. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-mel-gibson-to-be-redeemed/547453/36 "2010-07-23T20:44:23Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > Its not the things that he’s said or done when he’s drunk that have put him beyond the pale, its the things that he’s planned and carried out when he’s sober, > > Sorry but nothing now can excuse his asshloery. True, but alcohol has a way of bringing out the real person so it’s something of a self prescribed truth serum. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-mel-gibson-to-be-redeemed/547453/37 "2010-07-24T16:18:34Z")
> [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](#): > > > [@Lanzy](#): > > > > He needs to forsake god and give up the stupid shit his belief is causing. > > > [@FriarTed](#): > > > > Well, THAT’S constructive! > > Actually, yes, that is constructive. Probably the best advice so far. How does Mel’s belief in God cause this? All this could actually be attributed to Mel not believing enough in God in that he violates the Christian precepts against drunkeness, adultery & unjustified anger. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-mel-gibson-to-be-redeemed/547453/38 "2010-07-24T16:33:24Z")
I’m not sure whatever Mel’s got going on upstairs is going to clear up as soon as he reads some Richard Dawkins. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-mel-gibson-to-be-redeemed/547453/39 "2010-07-24T16:48:40Z")
Lets’s see if this ever gets made [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1567249/](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1567249/) ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-mel-gibson-to-be-redeemed/547453/40 "2010-07-24T17:52:39Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > Redeemed to who? > > If his next film is good, then people will go watch it. People like me dont give a shit about all the celebrity stuff in the background. If it is a great film, he will get critical acclaim and people will watch it. > > Seriously, redeemed to who? Those involved in the cult of celebrity? Such as glossy, gossip magazines or MTV gossip shows? Personally, I dont think he gives a monkeys what they think of him. This. If he comes up with another movie like Apocalypto do you think anyone will give a rat’s ass about who did what to whom? People don’t go to the movies to bask in the warm glow of their admiration for actor or director. “Wow this film sucks but he’s such a nice guy, so good to his mom, I think I’ll come see it again tomorrow.” They go because they want to see a good movie. Give them that and they’ll forgive you anything.\* - Case in point: the director Victor Salva. Convicted of child molestation after his first movie, he served a year in prison. What chance he could live that down? Every chance actually. Step forward Jeepers Creepers and its equally profitable sequel. As I said, the public doesn’t give a rat’s ass what you do as long as you come up with the goods. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-mel-gibson-to-be-redeemed/547453.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-mel-gibson-to-be-redeemed/547453.md?page=3)