A timeline of Mel Gibson's controversies over the years

In 1983, Mel Gibson received a three-month driving ban in Toronto, Canada, after he rear-ended another vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol.

The incident occurred while the actor was working on "Mrs. Soffel" with Diane Keaton and Matthew Modine.

Speaking to the Spanish newspaper El Pais in 1991, Gibson made inflammatory remarks when he was asked about homosexuality. The comments were met with heavy criticism from the LGBTQ+ community. 

He said: "They take it up the ass. This is only for taking a shit."

The actor added: "With this look, who's going to think I'm gay? I don't lend myself to that type of confusion. Do I look like a homosexual? Do I talk like them? Do I move like them?"

In 1995, GLAAD criticized the way Gibson depicted Edward II in "Braveheart," which he produced and directed, calling the character a "homophobic caricature." The organization held protests in various cities opposing the movie's release, the Washington Post reported at the time.

In an interview with Playboy in July 1995, Gibson spoke about criticism from the LGBTQ+ community and was asked if he would apologize.

"I'll apologize when hell freezes over. They can fuck off,'" he said.

Months later, Gibson met with representatives from GLAAD in a forum organized by Cher's son Chastity Bono and reached a detente. According to Gibson's publicist, it was "a nice dialogue between people who have a lot in common." 

Speaking to GQ about her career in 2010, "Beetlejuice" and "Stranger Things" star Winona Ryder claimed that Gibson made homophobic and antisemitic jokes to her at a party in the '90s.

"I remember, like, 15 years ago, I was at one of those big Hollywood parties. And he was really drunk," Ryder said. "I was with my friend, who's gay. He made a really horrible gay joke. And somehow it came up that I was Jewish. He said something about 'oven dodgers,' but I didn't get it."

She added: "I'd never heard that before. It was just this weird, weird moment. I was like, 'He's antisemitic and he's homophobic.' No one believed me."

When Ryder recalled the story again to The Sunday Times in 2020, a spokesperson for Gibson issued a statement denying her accusations.

"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 apologize 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," Gibson's spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter.

Ryder issued a response, wishing Gibson well in the future.

 "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. Around 1996, my friend Kevyn Aucoin and I were on the receiving end of his hateful words," said the actor.

Ryder added: "It is a painful and vivid memory for me. Only by accepting responsibility for our behavior in this life can we make amends and truly respect each other, and I wish him well on this lifelong journey."

The actor was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in Malibu, California, in July 2006.

TMZ reported at the time that Gibson made several antisemitic remarks to the arresting officer, LA County Sheriff Deputy James Mee, citing Mee's police report of the arrest.

"Fucking Jews. The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world. Are you a Jew?" Gibson said, per the report.

Mee also wrote that Gibson threatened him. "Gibson almost continually threatened me saying he 'owns Malibu' and will spend all of his money to 'get even' with me," said the report.

Gibson later apologized for the incident, saying: "I acted like a person completely out of control when I was arrested... I disgraced myself and my family with my behavior, and for that I am truly sorry. I have battled with the disease of alcoholism for all of my adult life and profoundly regret my horrific relapse."

Gibson made a second, lengthier apology to the Jewish community for his antisemitic remarks.

"There is no excuse, nor should there be any tolerance, for anyone who thinks or expresses any kind of Anti-Semitic remark," Gibson said. "I want to apologize specifically to everyone in the Jewish community for the vitriolic and harmful words that I said to a law enforcement officer the night I was arrested on a DUI charge."

In July 2010, audio recordings surfaced online of Gibson making abusive and racist remarks in a conversation with his ex-girlfriend, Russian singer and songwriter Oksana Grigorieva. The pair had been together since 2007, and Grigorieva gave birth to their daughter Lucia in 2009.

In the clip, Gibson can be heard saying: "You go out in public and it's a fucking embarrassment to me. He told her she looked like a "fucking bitch on heat" and said it would be her fault if she were to get raped by a "pack" of people he referred to using the N-word. 

In an interview with Deadline in 2011, Gibson said the tapes were edited.

"I don't blame some people for thinking that though, from the garbage they heard on those leaked tapes, which have been edited," he said. " You have to put it all in the proper context of being in an irrationally, heated discussion at the height of a breakdown, trying to get out of a really unhealthy relationship. It's one terribly, awful moment in time, said to one person, in the span of one day and doesn't represent what I truly believe or how I've treated people my entire life."

In March 2011, Gibson pleaded "no contest" to misdemeanor battery after an investigation into an allegation of domestic abuse by Grigorieva, who claimed that he hit her during an argument they had in January 2010. 

Grigorieva obtained a restraining order against her ex-partner in June 2010 as a result of the incident.

Gibson entered a no-contest plea bargain over the charge, and he was put on probation for three years, as well as ordered to attend one year of anger management counseling. He was also required to carry out 16 hours of community service, and had to pay a $400 domestic violence fine.

After the hearing, Grigorieva's lawyer said: "Ms. Grigorieva will now concentrate on co-parenting Lucia, resuming her charitable work for the children of Chernobyl, and moving forward with her life.

The pair also settled their custody battle over their daughter, Lucia, a few months later in August 2011.

Gibson paid his ex-partner a sum of $750,000, and also committed to paying for the house his daughter and Grigorieva were living in until Lucia turned 18.