News | Entertainment
26 Feb 2026 10:14
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Joshua Malina has called for Hollywood to "cancel Mel Gibson"

    The former 'West Wing' star has blasted the movie industry for continuing to hire the 65-year-old actor despite his alleged previous anti-Semitic comments and argued that although he appreciates the 'Lethal Weapon' star's previous work, there is no need for him to be given opportunities for his career to continue to flourish


    In a passionate op-ed for The Atlantic titled 'Cancel Mel Gibson', he wrote: “Gibson is a well-known Jew-hater (anti-Semite is too mild). His prejudices are well documented. So my question is, what does a guy have to do these days to get put on Hollywood’s no-fly list? I’m a character actor. I tend to take the jobs that come my way.

    "But—and this hurts to write—you couldn’t pay me enough to work with Mel Gibson.

    “Now, I love the ‘Lethal Weapon’ movies (at least the first few). And Danny Glover’s a gem. But Gibson? Yes, he’s a talented man. Many horrible people produce wonderful art.

    “Put me down as an ardent fan of Roald Dahl, Pablo Picasso, and Edith Wharton; can’t get enough of what they’re selling. But these three had the good taste to die. That makes it a lot easier to enjoy their output. Gibson lives. And Tinseltown need not employ him further.”

    After Mel recently announced he will direct and star in 'Lethal Weapon 5', Joshua questioned the whole existence of "cancel culture".

    He continued: “If Gibson is welcomed back to direct the latest installment of this beloved franchise, it may be time to stop publishing think pieces about the power of ‘cancel culture.’ Because if he can continue to find big bucks and approbation in Hollywood, cancel culture simply does not exist."

    And the 55-year-old star insisted Hollywood is "overlooking" many other alleged prejudices the 'Braveheart' star holds.

    He continued: “It is inarguably true that the main targets of Gibson’s prejudice are the Jews, but what boggles my mind is that Hollywood is also overlooking his profound misogyny and forays into anti-Black racism.

    "I wish anti-Jewish hatred alone were enough to get him cast into the wilderness, but, hey, if it has to be because of his other prejudices, I’m okay with that. Let him take the hundreds of millions he’s already earned in Hollywood and retire somewhere nice to contemplate his life choices. I hear the Judean Hills are lovely this time of year.”

    But the 'Scandal' star didn't expect his essay to have an impact on anything other than his own career.

    He concluded: “I write this knowing that it’s more likely to lead to a boycott by Warner Bros. of Joshua Malina than of Mel Gibson.

    “But if that’s the result, so be it. I’ve had a nice career, baruch Hashem.

    "It would be great if higher-profile ex ecutives, producers, and actors would also take a stand. Then I could believe in this cancel culture I keep reading so much about. And I could also believe that Jews do, in fact, count.”

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     26 Feb: Nick Reiner has pleaded not guilty to murdering his parents
     26 Feb: Jamie Foxx has branded John Davidson's outbursts at the BAFTA Awards "unacceptable"
     26 Feb: Bad Bunny hailed Willie Colón as "one of the legends who contributed" to Latin music following his death
     26 Feb: JoJo Siwa hopes her signature bows can inspire a new generation to find "their voice and confidence"
     26 Feb: Wunmi Mosaku wants to make women feel "seen and represented" with her maternity line
     26 Feb: Conan O'Brien has been "practicing backflips" in case Rose Byrne wins an Oscar
     26 Feb: Backstreet Boys "pray" they don't get injured before going on stage
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    A new role and an appointment at New Zealand Rugby as part of their high performance overhaul More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Air New Zealand's feeling the squeeze of rising costs More...



     Today's News

    National:
    There are more than 4.6 million food posts on TikTok alone. Why, then, do we still love cookbooks? 10:07

    Soccer:
    Italian football club Atalanta have staged a comeback to make the Champions League round-of-16 10:07

    Entertainment:
    Nick Reiner has pleaded not guilty to murdering his parents 9:51

    International:
    New image taken by ALMA telescope reveals 'extraordinary' detail of Milky Way's central zone 9:27

    Business:
    Air New Zealand's feeling the squeeze of rising costs 9:27

    Entertainment:
    Jamie Foxx has branded John Davidson's outbursts at the BAFTA Awards "unacceptable" 9:21

    International:
    Iceland to hold referendum on joining EU a decade after abandoning membership talks 9:07

    Entertainment:
    Bad Bunny hailed Willie Colón as "one of the legends who contributed" to Latin music following his death 8:51

    Entertainment:
    JoJo Siwa hopes her signature bows can inspire a new generation to find "their voice and confidence" 8:21

    Business:
    It feels like the golden days for dairy farmers - as they celebrate a record-breaking year 8:17


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd