Who is Mel Gibson's partner? Jewish groups react after actor was axed as Endymion parade grand marshal
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA: The Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, the Greater New Orleans Clergy Council, and the Jewish Community Relations Council have released a joint statement after Mel Gibson was removed from the upcoming Krewe of Endymion parade in New Orleans after the organization said it had received "threats that cause us great concern" regarding the actor's participation. The groups reacted by saying, “Although it has been announced that Mel Gibson will no longer ride due to reported threats, ADL…are appalled that Endymion chose Mel Gibson as the parade’s 2023 Grand Marshal to begin with.”
The statement, reported by 4WWL, comes after Endymion president Dan Kelly said on January 8, less than 24 hours after Oscar-winner Gibson was announced as co-grand marshal, “The Krewe of Endymion has received significant feedback about our grand marshal announcement. Some of this commentary included threats that cause us great concern. In the best interest of the safety of our riders, special guests and everyone that welcomes us on the streets, Mel Gibson will not ride as a Co-Grand Marshal for our 2023 parade."
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Gibson's homophobic, antisemitic and racist remarks
As previously reported, Gibson is notorious for his antisemitic remarks. When he was arrested in 2006 for a DUI, Gibson hurled anti-Jewish remarks at the officer who arrested him. He is also accused of making homophobic and racist remarks on several occasions, and in a leaked video he used the N-word while yelling at Oksana Grigorieva, the mother of one of his children, whom Gibson also accused of domestic violence in 2010. He was caught saying, according to TMZ, "You look like a f*king pig in heat and if you get raped by a pack of ni**ers it's will be your fault." Grigorieva claimed Gibson punched her in the head and face more than once at his Malibu home, People reports. He was sentenced in 2011 to three years of probation, counseling and community service after pleading guilty to misdemeanor domestic violence against Grigorieva.
Lindsey Baach Friedmann of the Anti-Defamation League, as quoted by 4WWL, said, "It's 2023, we're still talking about Mel Gibson, we're still uplifting Mel Gibson, it's just really surprising to me. I believed there was a larger community awareness of who he is. If you say something hurtful to and about a community and you apologize, but you go back and double down on it and do it again, have you really apologized?" Austin Marks, a 12-year member of Endymion and a member of the Jewish community, said, "It hurts, it's so unnecessary, he's a known misogynist, he's a racist, he's an antisemite. So to give him a platform, during Mardi Gras and carnival of all times.... It does a terrible service to both Endymion as an organization and New Orleans as a whole. I would ask Endymion to do a little more. though, it makes sense for them to have some sort of committee or group of folks to oversee who they chose to select as their Grand Marshals."
Who is Mel Gibson's partner?
Gibson, 66, has been dating Rosalind Ross, 32, since 2014, Closeweekly reports. Of their age difference, Gibson told the Mirror in November 2016, "Regarding age and relationships, it's just a number. She is an adult and we dig each other. It might cause a problem and one has trepidation about these things, but it's working out great. She is a really special person. I dig her. So, there you go. That's it. What more can one ask?"
Born July 5, 1990, in Aptos, California, Ross is a former vaulter, The Mirror reports. She won a gold medal at the 2010 World Equestrian Games and is also in the AVA Hall of Fame, Closeweekly reports.