Crisis experts: Gibson facing uphill climb

[LostinVA]

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Mel Gibson's Tuesday apology for an anti-Semitic rant after his drunken driving arrest came several days too late, celebrity crisis management experts say.

It was the star's first acknowledgment that he spewed anti-Jewish slurs at Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff James Mee early Friday -- a tirade that could threaten his career and the December release of his film "Apocalypto," in which he and Disney invested tens of millions of dollars.

"In the first 24 hours, people start forming opinions," said Richard Levick, whose Washington firm represents several celebrity clients. "He has constantly been behind the story and needs to get out front. What he's done through actions is turned perception into reality. People presume he is anti-Semitic." (Watch if Gibson's reputation can be saved -- 4:33).

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/08/02/gibson.damagecontrol.ap/index.html


'Cause you can never get enough of Mel crashin' and burnin'...

[DireStrike]

1. I wonder what the ratio is

Of celebrity crisis management experts to, say, climate crisis experts.

[noonwitch]

5. Celebrity crisis management sounds like a lucrative career

It's got to pay better than social work. It must be one of those things like "life coach".

[Sapere aude]

2. Why is this so damned important? I really would like to know.

I don't mean that anyone should have to ignore it. Just want to know why something in the life of an actor should go on for days and days.

[Cosmocat]

3. It is a joke ...

really ... You got clowns all over the place saying this is going to destroy his career ...

Give it two years and two action movies and people won't even remember the incident ...

[Tinksrival]

9. I agree. Right now it's just media fodder.

But just look what we have for a president.

Born againers just eat this shit up! Nothing like a drunk who has seen the light to save the day!

Halleluia!

[survivor999]

10. Good publicity for him

That's all. Besides, I like some of the movies he's been in.

[Phredicles]

6. Here in LA that's all anyone's talking about.

Sure, the Times is running that five-part, in-depth series on the calamity striking our oceans. But that stuff is, you know, depressing and hard.

[Missy M]

4. How much more does he have to apologize....

I think there was a time when an apology meant something but not anymore. Hopefully he is seeking help for his drinking problem and won't drink, drive and speed anymore. Furthermore, hopefully he will keep his big mouth shut in the future.

[gratuitous]

8. There was also a time . . .

There was also a time when an apology came from the heart, and not through some PR flack's office. I'm not holding a brief for or against Mr. Gibson, but I wouldn't find the statements his publicist has issued very persuasive if they were directed to me.

I hope he does lay off the sauce and learn to keep some of his opinions to himself in the future if this is the sort of thing that oozes out of him when he's been drinking.

[sui generis]

7. why on earth has gibson been in the news every day this week?

On CNN in the Top 10 stories with a headline change every hour?

Who the fuck cares? He did something assholish, not unlike many people feeling sorry for themselves busted drunk, but had he said this about "fags" or "beaners" it wouldn't have been a blip on the radar.

I am really sick and tired of the permanently persecuted - of any stripe. This is not headline news.

:rant: