Agency sacks ‘untouchable’ Mel

Mad Max is clearly reaping the consequences of his actions. Not only is the actor now being investigated on a domestic violence charge even as an explicit recording of him ranting at his ex-girlfriend was released online, but he has been hit most where it hurts: he has been dropped by the William Morris Endeavor Entertainment talent agents.

Earlier this week, the agency's Patrick Whitesell informed the actors' representatives that he would no longer be represented by the agency, The Hollywood Reporter said.

Gibson's longtime agent, Ed Limato, died on July 3 with a funeral due next week. The trade paper says WME partner Ari Emanuel had previously expressed hostility toward Gibson after the actor made anti-Semitic remarks and made remarks implying skepticism about the Holocaust.

It quoted an anonymous agency source as saying Gibson and Limato had a long-standing relationship. “Mel was really important to Ed.... He was with him for 32 years and I think Ed saw him as a son,” the source said, before adding: “The world knows how Ari feels and he has never changed that opinion.”

Domestic violence

Meanwhile, sheriff’s officials in Los Angeles say the actor has been named as a potential suspect in a domestic violence investigation involving his ex-girlfriend, Russian singer Oksana Grigorieva, earlier this year. The disclosure came after detectives interviewed Grigorieva about the alleged attack at an undisclosed location in Malibu, the Associated Press said.

Grigorieva has reportedly told police previously that Gibson punched her on January 6, knocked out two of her teeth and was violent with her on several occasions.
Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore said Thursday that Grigorieva is the only person interviewed so far in the case. Gibson and Grigorieva have been involved in a nasty custody dispute over their eight-month-old daughter Lucia — the subject of a confidential court case.

The actor has not publicly discussed the breakup with Grigorieva, 40. The former couple first revealed their relationship shortly after Gibson’s wife, Robyn, filed for divorce last April. The divorce is pending.


Racist rants

The investigation comes after allegations in recent weeks of Gibson’s bigoted tirades against blacks and Latinos in a conversation with Grigorieva. But it seems there is truth to these accusations, with RadarOnline.com having released what it claims is an audio of his outburst.

After chastising her for wearing tight clothes and accusing her of having had breast implants, the man on the tape says: “You go out in public and it’s a f***ing embarrassment to me. You look like a f***ing b**** in heat. And if you get raped by a pack of ni**ers it will be your fault. Alright? Because you provoked it. You are provocatively dressed all the time with your fake boobs that you feel you have to show off. I don’t like it. I don’t want that woman. I don’t want  you. I don’t trust you. I don’t love you.”

While it is unclear when the audio was recorded, the site says the singer apparently recorded the conversation with Gibson because she was afraid for her life after he threatened to kill her,RadarOnline.com said. On one part of the tape Gibson reportedly says: "I am going to come and burn the f**king house down,” adding that she would perform oral sex on him first.


Career impact

Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter quoted several studio executives as saying that in the wake of these disclosures that they consider the troubled actor to untouchable in the industry. “I'd rather get engaged to Lindsay Lohan than have anything to do with him,” one studio chief reportedly said.

The trade publication also quoted a spokesman for Gibson as saying the star had always planned to do without an agent after Limato’s death. He added, “At this point he doesn't seem to be in need of an agent."

Gibson has projects lined up for the next two years, including starring roles in two films: The Beaver, a dark comedy directed by and co-starring Jodie Foster, and How I Spent My Summer Vacation, which Gibson co-wrote.

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