Mel Gibson Emotionally Admits He and Robert Downey Jr. Wouldn’t ‘Exist’ Without Each Other
Mel Gibson has admitted that he and fellow actor Robert Downey Jr. constantly saved themselves from being “nonexistent and blacklisted.”
The pair has a shared history of “falling off the wagon,” with Gibson’s alcoholism and Downey Jr.’s history of substance abuse.
Now Gibson has said the only reason they have survived their troubles and continued to flourish in Hollywood is because they stood by each other.
Oh, the tangled webs of Hollywood! It seems like Robert Downey Jr. and Mel Gibson have had quite the journey together, from being “nonexistent” to being two of the most bankable actors in Tinseltown. It’s a tale of redemption, friendship, and a whole lot of hugging the cactus.
Gibson, known for his roles in “Braveheart” and “Lethal Weapon,” and Downey Jr., the face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Iron Man, have shared a unique bond that transcends their on-screen personas. Their friendship has weathered the storms of Hollywood scandals, personal demons, and the ever-fickle nature of fame.
Gibson credits Downey Jr. for supporting him during his “canceled” era following his 2006 arrest and antisemitic remarks. Downey Jr. stood up for Gibson when Hollywood was ready to write him off, urging the industry to forgive him and allow him to continue his contributions to the art. In a heartwarming twist of fate, Gibson had previously helped Downey Jr. when he was struggling with addiction and trying to get his life back on track.
Their relationship is a testament to the power of second chances and the importance of standing by your friends through thick and thin. As Gibson said, “I was pretty much nonexistent in Hollywood at the time, and he stood up and spoke for me…I loved him for that.” It’s a beautiful reminder that even in the cutthroat world of show business, genuine friendships can flourish and make all the difference.
So, here’s to Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr., two Hollywood titans who, without each other, might not have had the opportunity to grace our screens and remind us that sometimes, the best stories are the ones that happen off-camera.
The Braveheart actor-director, 68, said Downey, 59, has remained a strong force in his life even amid a string of career-threatening scandals, including his infamous July 2006 arrest in Malibu, California.
In that incident, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy said that the Braveheart star lashed out at him with a string of antisemitic slurs. In a chat with Esquire published Monday, April 8, in a profile piece about Downey, who won his first Academy Award last month for playing Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer, Gibson recalled: “One time, I got into a bit of a sticky situation where it kind of ended my career. I was drunk in the back of a police car and I said some stupid s–t, and all of a sudden, blacklisted. I’m the poster boy for canceled.”
Downey also praised Gibson for standing by him amid his troubles with drug addiction and run-ins with law enforcement. “When I couldn’t get sober, he told me not to give up hope and encouraged me to find my faith,” he added. “I couldn’t get hired, so he cast me in the lead of a movie that was actually developed for him.” The film was the 2003 musical comedyThe Singing Detective, in which Downey led a cast including Gibson,Robin Wright,Katie HolmesandAdrien Brody.
Gibson was also made a producer on the film, and he covered the costs for the insurance bond for Downey after no company would provide insurance on the actor, Entertainment Weekly reported.
Gibson toldEsquireof Downey’s 2011 speech: “I was pretty much nonexistent in Hollywood at the time, and he stood up and spoke for me. It was a bold and generous and kind gesture. I loved him for that.”
“We always had this kind of seesaw thing, where if he was on the wagon, I was falling off, and if I was on the wagon, he was falling off,” Gibson continued. While he and Downey Jr. have remained sober for years, they remain close and continue to be emotionally supportive of each other.