An interview with Mel Gibson abruptly ended after Fox News host Jesse Watters asked the Hollywood star to respond to the scandal surrounding Will Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock at the Academy Awards.
Nearly five minutes into the exchange, which aired shortly after Smith resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Friday, Watters popped the question of what Gibson thinks would have happened to him if he were the one who slapped Rock.
“I was wondering if, you know, you had been the one that jumped up out of his seat and slapped Chris Rock, if you would have been treated the same way, Mel?” Watters asked.
Smith slapped Rock onstage after the comedian, who was hosting the awards show, made a joke mocking the bald appearance of his wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith, who has alopecia. Smith has since apologized.
A grimacing Gibson did not respond to the question, instead lifting a hand and shaking his head, appearing to signal that he would not answer. That’s when a female voice interrupted to tell Watters their time was up.
Watters repeated the question but was again cut off by a female voice.
“Um, I’m — thank you, Jesse. Uh, we — that is our time,” the voice said. Watters then thanked Gibson for his time and shared the release date for the actor’s new movie. Gibson appeared to hear that, waving goodbye and saying, “Thank you.”
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This is an excerpt from the Washington Examiner.
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