‘The Resurrection of the Christ’ Director Mel Gibson Sparks Backlash After Video Shows Him Allegedly Mocking Deaf Interpreter

Comic-con and fan expo culture has become one of the more unpredictable corners of celebrity appearances, where a single unscripted moment on stage can spiral into a viral controversy within hours. That’s exactly what happened this past weekend at Fan Expo Canada, where one of Hollywood’s most polarizing figures found himself at the center of a fresh wave of criticism.

The convention, held in Toronto and marking its 30th anniversary this year, has long drawn major names for panels, autograph signings, and paid photo ops. Mel Gibson was among the celebrities scheduled to appear, taking the stage for a moderated conversation that quickly became less about the actor’s career and more about his behavior in the moments before it began.

Video circulating from the event shows Gibson being introduced by moderator Liam Crowley while an American Sign Language interpreter signed the introduction for deaf attendees in the crowd. As Gibson walked out from backstage, he appeared to mimic the interpreter’s hand movements directly behind her before turning to the audience, offering a few gestures of his own, and then crossing the stage to shake Crowley’s hand.

The clip spread quickly across social media, with members of the Deaf community and other viewers criticizing what many read as mockery of the interpreter’s signing. One ASL community member wrote online that it’s “always disappointing to see my language mocked,” adding that the community works hard for that language to be taken seriously. Others were harsher in their reactions, with one person online calling the moment “despicable.”

The backlash was sharpened further by comparisons to how other celebrities have handled similar moments at conventions. Alan Ritchson, star of ‘Reacher’, was singled out online for previously taking a moment to directly acknowledge an interpreter and thank the Deaf fans in attendance, a gesture many pointed to as the kind of respectful engagement Gibson’s moment lacked.

Not everyone online read the clip the same way. Some defenders argued Gibson was making a lighthearted joke rather than mocking the interpreter specifically, with one commenter suggesting viewers were too quick to assume bad intent without hearing the context of what Gibson was actually signing.

This isn’t the first time Gibson’s public conduct has drawn scrutiny. The actor has faced periodic backlash over the years tied to past comments, including a 1991 interview with a Spanish outlet that led to accusations of homophobia from GLAAD, along with renewed criticism following the release of ‘Braveheart’ in 1995 over its depiction of a gay character. He met with a GLAAD panel in the years that followed but has largely avoided directly apologizing for the earlier remarks.

As of now, Gibson himself has not publicly addressed the ASL interpreter footage or responded to the criticism circulating online. Whether the moment fades quickly or becomes another chapter in his long history of public controversy will likely depend on how the story continues to spread in the days ahead.

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