Gary Oldman apologizes for insulting Jews, defending Mel Gibson

 

Gary Oldman has taken a hard left turn away from comments he made in a recent interview with Playboy magazine. (WARNING: The link goes directly to the interview on Playboy‘s website; it is potentially NSFW.)

Oldman, whose statements about (among other things) Jewish people and Mel Gibson came under fire upon publication, has now backtracked, saying in a statement that he is “deeply remorseful that comments [he] recently made in the Playboy Interview were offensive to many Jewish people.”

The statement goes on to read:

Upon reading my comments in print—I see how insensitive they may be, and how they may indeed contribute to the furtherance of a false stereotype. Anything that contributes to this stereotype is unacceptable, including my own words on the matter. “I hope you will know that this apology is heartfelt, genuine, and that I have an enormous personal affinity for the Jewish people in general, and those specifically in my life.

It’s an interesting position for Oldman to take, especially so soon after the interview’s publication. He tells Playboy that he feels people are hypocritical in the ways that they use language privately and condemn its vulgar use publicly, and does include himself within that hypocrisy.

 

 

If you have the time, the interview itself is a fascinating read. Oldman is as forthcoming a celebrity as you’re likely to find, and speaks candidly and honestly about his upbringing, his profession, and himself. (For starters, he doesn’t think much of his performances).

He also talks about the amount and type of campaigning a big-time movie star has to do to be considered for major awards–and which awards are to be taken seriously. Really, regardless of what you think about Oldman’s statements, it’s worth reading most, if not all, of what he had to say in the first place.

What do you think? Is this whole thing overblown? Is Oldman’s apology enough?