Mel Gibson to testify against Harvey Weinstein in L.A. sexual assault trial
A judge ruled today that Gibson can testify about a conversation he had with one of the accusers in the case—but can't be asked about his past tirades
Aux News Harvey Weinstein
A judge ruled today that Mel Gibson can be called to testify against Harvey Weinstein in the latter’s ongoing Los Angeles trial for rape, Variety reports. The prosecution seeks to call Gibson to testify in support of accusations from a woman identified as Jane Doe 3, a masseuse who says she told Gibson, mid-massage, about Weinstein sexually assaulting her in 2010.
Judge Lisa B. Lench also ruled that the defense in the trial is not allowed to ask Gibson about… Well, about all the things you would probably try to ask Mel Gibson about, were you trying to discredit him as a witness in a criminal case against you. Specifically, Weinstein’s attorneys will not be allowed to ask Gibson about racist or antisemitic remarks he’s made in the past—although they will be allowed to question Gibson about any specific animosity he bears toward Weinstein.
The two do, after all, have a history: Although Gibson never appeared in a Weinstein-produced movie (as far as we can tell), the Miramax head did accuse Gibson’s The Passion Of The Christ of antisemitic overtones, going so far as to publish, through Miramax, a book, Perspectives On The Passion Of The Christ, in which a number of religious writers and scholars question some of the ideas, and the extreme violence, of Gibson’s passion play. (It also features, per the book’s Amazon page, an essay in which Steve Martin “offers an oblique comic view, from the perspective of a Hollywood insider,” which we’d be lying if we said we weren’t kind of curious about.)
According to the prosecution, Gibson became involved in the case while receiving a massage from Jane Doe 3 several years ago; when he mentioned “Harvey” in casual conversation, she reportedly had a “PTSD reaction,” stopped the massage, began crying, and, per attorneys in the case, “Gave the idea that Weinstein sexually assaulted or groped her.” Weinstein’s attorneys, meanwhile, are accusing Gibson of attempting to use the trial for his public image, alleging that he is “now trying to rehabilitate his image by becoming a champion of the #MeToo movement,” and stating that “Someone with white-supremacist values might have no problem perjuring himself against a Jewish defendant.” The judge ruled against allowing the topics to be brought up.
Weinstein is facing 11 counts of sexual assault in the Los Angeles case, from five different women. He’s currently serving a 23-year prison sentence in New York, after being convicted on two charges in 2020.
37 Comments
Damn! This is like having to choose between Godzilla and King Kong. I mean, the city’s going to be destroyed no matter who wins. Though, if Mel Gibson can get Harvey Weinstein put in jail, then go Mel Gibson.
They wish they were Godzilla vs King Kong.
This is more turd in punch bowl vs flaming bag of shit on porch.
I think Harvey Weinstein is in jail already, mate.
Godzilla and King Kong were both heroes.
Nah cuz people actually like King Kong and Godzilla
The lesser of two POS I guess, and if Mel-anoma can make her case stronger and cause Fugly McMangled Crotch to be shoved further down into the hole of incarceration, let’s allow it!
his dong sucks
That does raise the question: what does Mel Gibson casually bringing up Harvey mid-massage sound like?
A fantastic boner killer.
“I dunno if you’re familiar with that fat jew Harvey Wei—”I cannot afford to pay for oil heating right now for my family but I’d bet every penny in my savings account this is somewhat how he presented it
It’s like an Inception of awful.
These two are both terrible, but I *guess* a racist is better than a rapist.
“A racist rapist sounds worse than a regular rapist when u first hear it, but it’s actually better cause less people get raped”-Donald Glover
He’s not just a racist – he’s also a sexist who likely abused his girlfriend.But Harvey is probably worse.
“Now Mr Gibson, what can you tell us about the alleged assault by Mr. Weinstein?”“Well, he’s a jew, so…. guilty?”
“c’mon, judge, you know how they are”
Thats “sugar tits your honor , mr. Gibson “
Aryan vs. Predator.
I really shouldn’t be laughing at that, but take your damn star.
Holy crap thats gold right there. You win.
Wow. This is why it’s still worth coming to AVC.
Indeed, no matter who wins, we lose.
You son of a bitch!
Goddamn you! I thought I had this one.
Please use “massage therapist” instead of “masseuse,” especially in an article about sexual abuse. Massage therapists get sexualized enough; they don’t need the AV Club adding on.
I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.
Wow. That’s like….
Today in “enemy of my enemy is my friend” news…
I know only one of them’s on trial but there must be some way this can be fixed so Weinstein and Gibson both lose.
What’s gonna happen when Mel calls the judge “sugar tits?”
Much as I detest Weinstein the fact that a witness has, on record, made multiple racist rants (along with their other awful content) should be able to be talked about in court when the witness is testifying against a member of the group they hate. It’s not like the masseuse is also a known racist so it would be quite a stretch to say that the two of them conspired to bring down Weinstein if both of them don’t hate Jewish people so much they’d perjure themselves.TL;DR: Weinstein’s going down regardless but acting like a witness’s racism is irrelevant is foolish. This is a court helping to brighten up Mel Gibson by putting him next to a dead black pit.
Wwhy would the court anywhere be looking to help rehabilitate mel Gibson
Classic Hollywood story!! Two roguish leading men duking it Out! With such charm And hubba-hubba hunkiness in DOUBLE the great stars who do you ever even root for to come out looking the best??? More like lethal weapons (of the heart) amirite
Where’s that one guy who is constantly writing paragraphs about how Mel is a totally changed person now and we should all stop ganging up on him?
Why? You looking for someone to back you up?
*huff * What’d I miss?