The actor and film director recalled the scandal he starred in due to statements that put his career at risk

Years ago, Mel Gibson was involved in several scandals that almost cost him his career. (composition/AP)

2006 could be considered one of Mel Gibson ‘s darkest eras . That year, the Braveheart actor was involved in a scandalous arrest for drunk driving. To make matters worse, he verbally attacked the police officer who pulled him over. The insults to the sheriff’s Jewish nationality were branded as anti-Semitic and Gibson, who later apologized, was severely criticized by Hollywood.

Nearly two decades later, the director of The Passion of the Christ recalled that phase of his career and especially thanked Robert Downey Jr. for his intervention. Gibson credits the Oppenheimer actor as the person who defended him some time later and advocated for him to be removed from “the cancellation blacklist.”

“One time, I got into a sticky situation where my career almost ended,” Gibson explained in an interview with Esquire . “I was drunk in the back of a police car and said some stupid things, and then all of a sudden: blacklisted. I was the guy on the ‘cancelled’ sign.”

Mel Gibson has a long-standing friendship with Robert Downey Jr., and he recalled a memorable episode in which the “Iron Man” actor interceded on his behalf. (Credit: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for The Critics’ Choice Awards /AFP)

Mel mentioned that, five years later, Robert invited him to accompany him to an award ceremony he was to receive. “We had this kind of ups and downs; when he was on top, I was falling; and if I was on top, he was falling.”

Downey, who had already made a name for himself in the industry following the success of Marvel’s Iron Man , decided to mention his colleague in his acceptance speech for the annual award at the 2011 American Cinematheque gala.

The Sherlock Holmes star asked Hollywood to “ forgive my friend’s offenses, and offer him the same clean slate that they gave me. Allow him to continue his contribution to our collective art,” referring to his own troubled past in the 1990s that landed him temporarily in prison.

Robert Downey Jr in “Oppenheimer.” The actor also had problems with the law in the 1990s. (Credits: Universal Pictures)

Gibson thanked Downey Jr. for his attitude. “I was almost non-existent in Hollywood at that time and he stood up and spoke for me. It was a brave, generous and kind gesture . I loved him for that,” she emphasized in the magazine.

Robert has also seen Gibson as a kind of “guide,” especially when it comes to being a father figure. Mel shared an anecdote about a time when “Tony Stark” watched in amazement as Mel went from being an action movie star to a loving father.

“I was in a crappy room with all my kids,” Gibson says. “I had a tribe of kids, all pretty young, and they were lying on me, watching some crappy movie on TV and laughing. And Robert came in and sat watching TV, but I think he was looking at us. When he got up to leave, I walked out with him and he said, ‘Man, how do you do it? You’re like a saint. ’ He looked at me in a kind of awe. I think he really wanted that feeling of family .”

Robert Downey Jr. revealed that he admires Mel Gibson’s (The Grosby Group) parenting skills

Robert Downey Jr. recently won his first Oscar in the Best Supporting Actor category, thanks to his portrayal of Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer . The Christopher Nolan-directed film ushered the 59-year-old star into a new golden era in his career, following an extensive stint in superhero movies.

Although his time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe concluded in 2019 with Avengers: Endgame, Downey recently mentioned that he isn’t ruling out returning to the franchise as Tony Stark if the opportunity arises. “It’s in my DNA ,” he revealed in conversation with Esquire.