Winona Ryder has recently come forward accusing Mel Gibson of making derogatory remarks towards Jewish and LGBTQ individuals during an interview with The Sunday Times.
The renowned “Stranger Things” actress shared her encounters with anti-Semitism in the industry when questioned by a reporter, shedding light on a few specific instances.
Reflecting on past experiences, Ryder disclosed, “I have encountered anti-Semitism in rather peculiar ways.”
She elaborated, revealing incidents where people expressed surprise upon learning about her Jewish heritage, citing an episode during a casting process for a historical film where a Jewish studio executive remarked that she appeared “too Jewish” to portray a character from an affluent background.
Furthermore, Ryder recounted a distressing encounter involving Mel Gibson, a narrative she has shared previously.
Recalling a social gathering with a close friend, she narrated an unsettling exchange with Gibson, who made offensive comments directed at her gay friend.
Gibson’s remarks included asking if he would contract AIDS from his friend and making a derogatory remark about Jews, insensitively referring to them as “oven dodgers.”
Despite the inappropriate comments, Ryder mentioned that Gibson attempted to offer an apology afterward.
However, a representative for Gibson refrained from providing an immediate response when approached for comment on the matter.
Gibson’s history of expressing anti-Semitic sentiments notably surfaced in 2006 during a DUI arrest, where he infamously stated, “The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world!”
In a subsequent interview with Variety in 2016, Gibson addressed the incident as regrettable, attributing it to being under the influence and expressing frustration at the release of the recorded conversation without his consent.
The actor’s prejudiced inclinations have been exposed on multiple occasions, including the emergence of audio recordings in 2010 capturing his racist outbursts towards his former partner Oksana Grigorieva, wherein he used racial slurs, including the n-word.
Despite facing public backlash and a tarnished reputation, Gibson’s directorial work on the acclaimed war film “Hacksaw Ridge” in 2016 earned him nominations for six Oscars, showcasing a potential resurgence in his career.
In a poignant revelation during the interview, Ryder, known for her recent role in “The Plot Against America,” expressed her connection to her Jewish heritage, emphasizing a personal link to the tragic events of the Holocaust due to the loss of family members in concentration camps.
While acknowledging that she does not practice any religion, Ryder conveyed a deep-rooted fascination with this historical period, shaped by her familial history and the profound impact it continues to have on her worldview.
