Mel Gibson was hoping to commit ‘death by cop’ suicide when he launched his infamous anti-Semitic rant at a police officer, a friend of the Hollywood star has claimed.
The Braveheart star, 55, shattered his acting career when he was arrested for drink-driving in 2006 and uttered anti-Semitic slurs to Police Officer James Mee, who is Jewish, saying “Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world.”
But a close friend of the actor has argued that Gibson is not anti-Semitic but was suffering from depression following the breakdown of his 26-year marriage to his wife Robyn, and was trying to goad the officer in to shooting him.
Speaking to author Peter Biskind, who details the conversation in this month’s Vanity Fair, the friend said: “He felt that he had just absolutely failed as a human being.
“I don’t think this was being anti-Semitic. I think he was trying to rile that guy in to pulling out a gun and shooting him.”
A few days before the incident Gibson had returned to his Los Angeles home after filming to find his wife and seven children had moved out.
The friend claims that on the evening of the incident he had been at a restaurant with Gibson and several friends. The actor had said goodbye to everyone there before getting in his car.
“I believe what was going on that night was a farewell,” the friend explained.
Gibson was forced to publicly apologise for his rant following the incident, calling his outburst “deplorable.”