Seth Rogen Reacts To Mel Gibson Being Cast As Santa Claus

By Kristy Puchko | Film | May 9, 2019 |

Mel Gibson is doing fine. Mel Gibson, the two-time Academy Award-winner who declared during a 2006 DUI arrest, “The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world!” Mel Gibson, the ’80s action icon who called the female officer arresting him “sugar tits.” Mel Gibson, the world-famous actor/writer/director who told his ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva in an abusive and racist rant, “You look like a f*cking pig in heat, and if you get raped by a pack of n*****s, it will be your fault.” That Mel Gibson is doing fine. Sure he was out of the spotlight for a spell. But then he came roaring back into Hollywood’s good graces with Hacksaw Ridge, for which he was nominated for a Best Director Oscar. Since then, Gibson has parlayed his history of anti-Semitic, sexist, racist, and homophobic comments into a marketable bad boy image with roles in Machete Kills, The Expendables 3, and Daddy’s Home 2. And now, he’s set to play Santa, because 2019 is a hellscape.

THR reports the belligerent bigot is attached to play “a rowdy, unorthodox Santa” in Fatman, an action-comedy where a 12-year-old boy hires a hitman to kill Santa. The film is looking to lens in Canada in early 2020, and for now is headed to the Cannes Film Festival market. Ian and Eshom Nelms will direct the film based on their original script. Fatman will also have the advantage of executive producers who have name recognition and comedy clout, David Gordon Green, Jody Hill, and Danny McBride.

If you’re surprised by this trio choosing to work with Gibson, you’re not alone. We are too. And so—it seems—is Seth Rogen.

Rogen has worked with Green (Pineapple Express), Hill (Observe and Report), and McBride (Pineapple Express, This Is The End, The Disaster Artist). But that didn’t stop him from speaking out on this controversial Fatman casting. Rogen took a break from promoting his new rom-com The Long Shot to weigh in swiftly and sharply on Gibson’s latest role.

Rogen was not alone. The replies to THR’s initial tweet are filled with people expressing shock and displeasure. You can find some cheering for Gibson, but the most vocal contingent are those outraged by a virulently bigoted and abusive actor playing Santa Claus.

Reindeer: Why are we skipping some houses?

Santa: Those are Jews. Did you know that on 9/11…https://t.co/MMdGd6HrH5 — Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) May 8, 2019

In an early draft of Hebrew Hammer 2 @Jon_Kesselman wrote a cold open in which the Hebrew Hammer, having defeated an evil, anti-Semitic Santa in the original, takes on Mel Gibson. We updated it recently to reflect the current state of affairs. But apparently what is old is… https://t.co/Ty4rdSUyVG — Kiss My @s (@TheAdamGoldberg) May 9, 2019

Why is #MelGibson still a thing?

Why is the man who called the mother of his child, threatened to murder her and told her she deserved to be raped by "a pack of n*****s" still making movies?

Who is subsidising this racist, misogynist abusive fuck?https://t.co/HYIdQGN0kD — Kolley Kibber (@camcamdamn) May 9, 2019

Gibson to Oksana Grigorieva, the mother of his child: "You look like a fucking pig in heat. If you get raped by a pack of ni**ers, it will be your fault."



When Oksana asked why he would hit her twice in the face, Gibson said (on tape): "'You know what? You fucking deserved it." https://t.co/c8LDFwBvFj — Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) May 8, 2019

2. After Mel Gibson's anti-Semitic tirade in 2006 where he said, among other things,"The Jews are responsible for all the wars," he took a hit, but here's how he reacted when asked about in 2016 by Variety.



These aren't the words of a changed man. pic.twitter.com/qKrl1X9jbK — Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) May 8, 2019

3. Mel Gibson is pissed he got caught. And he's pissed that he keeps getting asked about it. He is not sorry.



Getting paid millions of dollars is not a right, it's a privilege. https://t.co/sLOvHFbQ2m pic.twitter.com/UN42LNd9sC — Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) May 8, 2019

I’m all for redemption. So asking this in good faith:



Has Mel Gibson ever actually atoned for his deeply racist and misogynist behaviors? I’ve heard him blame alcohol, but not actually reckon with the substance of his behaviors.



If not…bizarre what Hollywood will just forget. https://t.co/sOQz8A09iY — Phillip Atiba Goff (@DrPhilGoff) May 8, 2019

Once more for the people in the back: MEL GIBSON DOES NOT DESERVE TO MAKE A FILM EVER AGAIN.



Stop inviting him to the Oscars and paying him to make movies. Actors, stop working with/for him.



Normalizing his behavior is deeply dangerous. https://t.co/fIUxz3NLwP — Julie Kosin (@juliekosin) May 8, 2019

Kristy Puchko is the managing editor of Pajiba. You can follow her on Twitter.

Header Image Source: Getty