Jodie Foster Says Mel Gibson Not Anti-Semitic - Video Tape Worse than TMZ Early Reports Police Source Says - Avoid Going to Trial May Plead

August 6th 2006

Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster has come to the defense of Mel Gibson after he was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. Foster stared with Gibson in the 1994 film Maverick, a comedic film about a poker player who faces various mishaps and challenges. Foster played the charming thief in the film. The actress says he is not anti-Semitic.

According to report in the Los Angeles Times, Foster said “Absolutely not. Mel is honest, loyal, kind, but alcoholism has been a lifelong struggle for him and his family." Foster mentioned others including Christian Slater and Robert Downey Jr. as examples of nice guys who have found trouble when addiction enters the picture. Foster added, “I do not have personal experience with addiction, but I have seen it take many paths in people I know."

The newest controversy involves the video taping of part of Gibson’s arrest. If Mel goes to trial, the video tape may be made public. The prosecutors may choose to use the tapes for leverage to get Gibson to agree to stiffer penalties.

Typically, first time offenders get-off on time served and a suspended license. But if convicted, Gibson could get 6 months in jail. The District Attorney (DA) is aware that Gibson does not want the tapes made public and may use them to their advantage, even while avoiding a trial.

Gibson is charged with two misdemeanor counts of drunk driving. The DAs office has already passed on two other charges including resisting arrest and speeding, although the two allegations made it to the arrest report.

The tapes may be more damning than previous reports made by the website that originally broke the controversial story. The website, TMZ, report said Gibson made profane remarks including "f--king Jews" and "sugar tits" when referring to a female officer.

Times reporter, Steve Lopez citing a sheriff’s department source saying that Gibson made "two insulting comments" during the booking--"and when I heard what they were, they made the sugar reference seem tame by comparison."