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Why was Mel Gibson axed as Endymion Mardi Gras parade grand marshal? Internet questions choice of celeb

The Krewe of Endymion pulled actor Mel Gibson as its Grand Marshal of the 2023 parade less than 24 hours after it has announced he would ride

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA: Two-time Oscar-winning filmmaker and actor Mel Gibson is known for several issues and controversial statements. The actor will now no longer serve as second grand marshal, the Krewe of Endymion announced.

On Sunday, January 8, it was announced by Endymion that Gibson will serve as the second grand marshal, however, he'll no longer participate in the procession after there was criticism of his election. The Krewe of Endymion is one of the organizations responsible for planning the annual Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, and each year selects two celebrity guests to serve as co-grand marshals of the Mardi Gras procession. These guests are often artists, actors or members of the media. In the case of the controversial Hollywood star, Krewe claims that threats were the cause of the problem.

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Endymion authorities changed their minds less than a day after declaring that Gibson would lead the super-parade krewe's through the city, citing "significant feedback." Dan Kelly, the head of the krewe, continued in a statement, "Some of this commentary included threats that caused us great concern." He made no more mention of the specifics or origin of the claimed threats.

"The Krewe of Endymion has received significant feedback about our grand marshall announcement yesterday evening. Some of this commentary included threats that cause us great concern," The statement reads. "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." It continued, "We appreciate the cooperation of the city in addressing the issues that will allow us to present another wonderful parade this year along our entire route. We will move forward with our final preparations in the coming weeks for the largest procession in Carnival."

Mel Gibson is known for his antisemitic, racist and sexist statements. Although the actor has sporadically tried to retract his remarks over the years, much suffering is still associated with his name and signature, and in the Jewish community these conflicts may have left lasting wounds. in 1995, Gibson's historical epic 'Braveheart,' which he both directed and starred in, won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Picture. Gibson enjoyed notable career success both on screen and behind the camera. However, his reputation was damaged by a series of scandals and statements.

Some accused his 2004 film 'The Passion of the Christ' of being antisemitic propaganda. When Gibson was pulled over for speeding and drunk driving in 2006, he berated the officer who arrested him with anti-Jewish remarks. Although he later apologized for the incident, numerous scandals, including instances and allegations of antisemitism, continue to overshadow his early professional triumphs, NOLA reports.

'Never should've been invited'

The Internet began slamming the officials for choosing the controversial Hollywood star in the first place. One user tweeted, "Perhaps Endymion could have addressed its original decision, which was legit offensive to many who did not make threats…." Another user commented, "Never should have been invited in the first place." One person wrote, "Curious as to the rationale and the individuals involved in deciding that Mel Gibson is an appropriate parade Grand Marshall for New Orleans?" "Endymion just needs to go away," penned another. Another person tweeted, "Not taking any accountability for the decision in the first place. Shocking." "He “won’t ride?” What about the invitation itself?" remarked one user. Another user questioned, "The statement does not say he will not be riding in the Krewe Of Endymion. It says he will not ride as Co-Grand Marshall. Will he still ride? Will he still be honored otherwise?"

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.