It’s hard to miss the news of Mel Gibson’s recent DUI arrest - picked up for speeding on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu last Friday (July 28), Mr. Gibson spewed forth with anti-semitic comments and generally acted like a celebrity behaving badly.
But real news is how fast this all hit the ether - barely hours after the incident, TMZ.com posted a scan of several pages of the arresting officer’s handwritten report, and alleged a police cover-up. The Internet metes out Celebrity Justice - over and over, one post after another.
Sadly, no one is terribly shocked that Gibson would say this stuff (cf. Holocaust denier pater familias Gibson and the not-exactly Jewish-friendly “Passion of the Christ”).
Today’s New York Times reported that Disney/ABC has dropped plans to produce Gibson’s “Holocaust-themed miniseries.” (I’m not making this up - it’s weird here in California.)
Anyway, thanks to the Internet, Gibson is suffering through all kinds of negative press, business backlash, and angry blog comments. From a political perspective, it sure is really bad timing.
Off to rehab he goes; count on the Net to keep us posted at the speed of light…
3 comments ↓
I think M.G. got his special information $$$ sold $$$ on him in the form of a leak. As one would sell to the National Inquirer/ Globe.
Thinking that the internet not only serves where you are but the State, the country, the world, and it is 7/24.
You can pick up any information from any where at nearly the speed of light.
Off to Betty Ford Now, tah tah
Haven’t heard much from Mel since this incident. The Internet is like the Big Brother of George Orwell’s novel 1984…it is always watching, always capturing, and always publishing. Get a DUI arrest and it will surely make the internet as many news periodicals now publish online. Employers and school officials browse social networks to uncover the “real” employee/student. This can be quite scary, however it can also be used as an opportunity to benefit one’s self. Many school admissions won’t accept an applicant if they can not be “Googled”. The internet is becoming our resume…the more active in a community we are, the more awards we receive, etc. the internet will capture and this is what others will see. Start by creating a LinkedIn profile to help control your internet resume.
I don’t think anyone, including a movie star, sports figure, politician, or any other public figure should walk away scott free from such a serious incident. Mel Gibson is an adult and knows what he is doing. If his true beliefs were revealed when he had a little too much to drink then it is good that we found out what he really believes in.
Leave a Comment