"I acted like a person completely out of control when I was arrested," the statement reads, "and said things that I do not believe to be true and which are
despicable. I am deeply ashamed of everything I said."

Gibson said he has battled alcoholism as an adult, adding, "I ... profoundly regret
my horrific relapse. I apologize for any behavior unbecoming of me in my inebriated state and have already taken necessary steps to ensure my return to health."

Gibson's blood-alcohol level was .12 Until recent years, the threshold for DUI in most states was .10. While MADD may disagree, I don't think .12 is any big deal. When I represented people charged with DUI's years ago, most were over .15 and many were over .20 I have to wonder whether Gibson's alleged anti-semitic and other belligerent comments were the result of his drinking or just a strategy move by his publicists, The public has a tendency to be forgiving of contrite alchohol and drug-abusing celebrities. Right now, I can't think of an anti-semitic celebrity who's gotten a pass. [decimel points corrected.]

While Gibson's apology is filled with self-flagellation for his driving while inebriated, his purported life-long alcoholism and his "belligerent" remarks to the arresting officer, it's also notable for its lack of reference to his alleged anti-semitic comments.

Interestingly, Gibson isn't beholden to the Hollywood studios these days since he mostly directs and is rich enough to independently finance his films but he's still dependent on box office revenues.

Studio executives noted that Gibson has made enough money that he doesn't
really rely on the studios as much as he once did because he can finance his
pictures independently. They even question whether Gibson wants to act, noting
that he has turned his talents to directing in recent years.....Gibson was the highest paid celebrity in 2004, earing $210 million, according to Forbes magazine.
The next year, he earned $185 million more, thanks largely to DVD sales of "The
Passion of the Christ," a worldwide blockbuster.

...."In Hollywood the main currency is currency. It's about box office," he said. "If
someone says something offensive but the movie makes a lot of money, it seems
all is forgiven. We've seen people recover from just about everything in Hollywood."

As to Passion of the Christ and Gibson's father's reported anti-semitism, the article also notes:

Gibson told ABC's Diane Sawyer in 2004 that the movie grew from a spiritual
rebirth he experienced in 1991, as he struggled with alcohol and other addictions.
"Drugs, booze, anything. You name it," Gibson said during the interview. "Coffee,
cigarettes, anything. All right? I'm just one of these guys who is like that. That's
my flaw."

....A March 2003 New York Times Magazine article quoted his father, Hutton Gibson, as dismissing historical accounts that 6 million Jews were exterminated in
the Holocaust.

I don't like to pre-judge anyone, but I can't help but think of the old saying, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck.

I can overlook Gibson's driving with an above-legal alcohol level but the alleged
anti-semitic comments, which he doesn't deny in his apology, are another matter.

Query: Is Mel Gibson a U.S. citizen? If not, now that he has publicly admitted
driving while intoxicated, if he pleads guilty, will he be in danger of being deported
if Congress passes the House version of the immigration reform bill? I can't wait
to see who he retains as his defense counsel. [Update: Gibson was born in the U.S. and raised in Australia. He is a U.S. citizen.]

Update: James Wolcott is great today on Gibson.

Update: Also read Ari Emanuel over at HuffPo.

....alcoholism does not excuse racism and anti-Semitism.

....At a time of escalating tensions in the world, the entertainment industry cannot idly stand by and allow Mel Gibson to get away with such tragically inflammatory statements. People in the entertainment community, whether Jew or gentile, need to demonstrate that they understand how much is at stake in this by professionally shunning Mel Gibson and refusing to work with him, even if it means a sacrifice to their bottom line.

There are times in history when standing up against bigotry and racism is more important than money.

Nicely put, Ari.