Gary Oldman Anti-Semitic Mel Gibson Remarks - 'Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes' Star Apologizes For 'Take A F***ing Joke' Playboy Magazine Interview
Earlier this week, a new Playboy Magazine interview with Gary Oldman (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, The Dark Knight trilogy, Harry Potter series, etc.) was released, featuring some controversial remarks that some have found to be anti-Semitic in nature. After bringing up Mel Gibson's notorious past with this topic, Oldman kind of went on a rant about and criticized political correctness. Well the Anti-Defamation League has taken issue with Oldman's statement, issuing a statement against the actor. Oldman has now apologized for his comments.
Read Oldman's Playboy Magazine interview HERE [NSFW Website]!
"The British actor remarked that, 'Mel Gibson is in a town that's run by Jews and he said the wrong thing because he's actually bitten the hand that I guess has fed him.' [These remarks] irresponsibly feed into a classic anti-Semitic canard about supposed Jewish control of Hollywood and the film industry," said ADL National Director Abraham H. Foxman. "He should know better than to repeat and give credence to tired anti-Semitic tropes. Mel Gibson's ostracization in Hollywood was not a matter of being 'politically incorrect,' as Mr. Oldman suggests, but of paying the consequences for outing himself as a bigot and a hater. It is disturbing that Mr. Oldman appears to have bought into Mr. Gibson's warped and prejudiced world view."
After the backlash started, Oldman quickly sent a letter to the ADL, apologizing for his interview remarks and explaining that he understands why his comments were unacceptable.
"I am deeply remorseful that comments I recently made in the Playboy Interview were offensive to many Jewish people," he said in a letter to the organization. "Upon reading my comments in print - I see how insensitive they may be, and how they may indeed contribute to the furtherance of a false stereotype. Anything that contributes to this stereotype is unacceptable, including my own words on the matter."
You can read more of Oldman's apology letter over at Deadline.