The Why Project
← Antisemitism

Mel Gibson

Actor, director

Broad consensus

Said Jews are “responsible for all the wars in the world.”

What happened

During a July 2006 DUI arrest in Malibu, per the sheriff’s report, Gibson said Jews were “responsible for all the wars in the world” and asked the deputy if he was Jewish.

“The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world.”

Under each definition

A classic world-control trope: antisemitic under all three general definitions, with the 3D test not applicable.
IHRAIHRA Working Definition
Antisemitic

Example 2: “Jews are responsible for all the wars” is the world-control allegation in its plainest form.

JDAJerusalem Declaration
Antisemitic

Guidelines 1–2: a sweeping conspiratorial generalization about Jews as a collective.

NexusNexus Document
Antisemitic

Core anti-Jewish hostility; no Israel dimension.

3D testSharansky’s 3D Test
N/A

No Israel content.

Who called it antisemitic

The ADL; Hollywood figures including agent Ari Emanuel, who urged an industry boycott.

The defense

Apology and denial of belief: “please know from my heart that I am not an anti-Semite”; he blamed the outburst on alcoholism.

Outcome

Effectively blacklisted in Hollywood for years (compounded by a separate 2010 recorded tirade); later staged a partial comeback.

In their words

The subject
Please know from my heart that I am not an anti-Semite. I am not a bigot. Hatred of any kind goes against my faith.
Mel GibsonActor/director (the accused)CNN
Called it antisemitic
Mel Gibson’s apology is unremorseful and insufficient. It’s not a proper apology because it does not go to the essence of his bigotry and his anti-Semitism.
Abraham FoxmanNational Director, Anti-Defamation LeagueCNN
Called it antisemitic
People in the entertainment community … need to demonstrate that they understand how much is at stake in this by professionally shunning Mel Gibson and refusing to work with him.
Ari EmanuelHollywood talent agent (Endeavor)Los Angeles Times

The verdicts above are how each framework would most likely treat this case — illustrative guidance, not official rulings. The 3D test applies only to Israel-related cases, so it reads “N/A” elsewhere. See the Definition tab for each framework’s full text. Inclusion is documentation, not a finding.