Mel Gibson has found himself in the spotlight once again, but this time it’s not for his acting or directing.
The actor, 69, recently came out swinging against California Governor Gavin Newsom, 57, as he threw his support behind a movement to recall the politician.
Gibson’s outburst came after his home in Malibu was devastated by wildfires that tore through Los Angeles and surrounding areas last month.
A Fury Fueled by Personal Loss
At a press conference organized by the political action group SavingCalifornia.vote, Gibson didn’t hold back in his criticism of Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
His anger was especially intense over the way the pair handled the catastrophic fires that swept through the area.
“Was it incompetence? Indifference? Complacency? Carelessness? Negligence? Absolutely,” he declared.
The wildfires, which started in places like Pacific Palisades and Altadena, destroyed nearly 13,000 homes and led to the tragic loss of at least 29 lives.
In front of a crowd of supporters rallying behind the recall, Gibson fumed, “Do the mayor and the governor give a damn about you? Hell no!” He even suggested that the response to the fires was “criminal negligence,” further intensifying his frustration with the leaders he feels have failed the people.
A Critique of Newsom’s Plans
Adding fuel to the fire, Gibson mocked Newsom’s recovery plans, dismissing the Governor’s “build back better” slogan as mere empty words.
“I have another ‘B’ word for you — ‘bulls***,'” Gibson said sarcastically.
This biting criticism follows the massive damage caused by the wildfires, and Gibson’s personal experience losing his Malibu property only added weight to his frustrations.
In response, Newsom’s office pushed back, accusing the recall supporters of exploiting the victims of the fires for political gain.
They also pointed out that the recall effort could cost taxpayers $200 million — money that they argue should go toward emergency preparedness and fire response.
The Road to a Recall Vote
The recall group, SavingCalifornia.vote, has now been authorized to start gathering signatures for the recall petition.
To trigger a recall election, the group will need to collect 15 million signatures within 160 days, which represents 12% of the voters from the 2022 gubernatorial election.
Despite Newsom’s landslide victory that year, some critics feel his win was not as convincing as expected in California, where no Democratic gubernatorial nominee has won with less than 60% of the vote since 2010.
Newsom has faced a recall before, back in 2021, and successfully managed to keep his job despite a recall election that saw him retain his position with just 38% of the vote.
If this new recall effort succeeds, it would likely lead to another election — but with only a year left until the next scheduled gubernatorial vote in 2026, the victor would have little time in office.
Why This Recall Effort Could Be Different
Randy Economy, a conservative radio host and the chairman of SavingCalifornia.vote, believes this recall effort has a stronger chance due to Newsom’s alleged detachment from the needs of ordinary Californians.
“He’s become completely disconnected from the reality of everyday Californians struggling to survive in the state he’s mismanaging,” Economy argued.
This disconnect, he believes, makes Newsom more vulnerable to the recall push than he was in 2021.
Gibson’s Apocalyptic Warnings
Before the recall effort officially took off, Gibson appeared on The Joe Rogan Show to criticize Newsom’s handling of California’s forest management.
He claimed that the Governor had failed to take care of the state’s forests, a key factor in the spread of wildfires.
During the interview, Gibson painted a grim picture of society’s future, warning of an impending collapse.
Referencing Jared Diamond’s book Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, Gibson said, “It doesn’t take long.
All the earmarks, the precursors of a collapse, they’re present in our time.”
Though devastated by the loss of his Malibu home, Gibson assured fans he wasn’t at risk of becoming homeless.
He has another property in Costa Rica, where he said he “loves it.”
When asked if the fires might be the final straw for him to leave California, Gibson joked about potentially getting a new house out of the crisis.
Irony in the Blaze’s Path
In an ironic twist, the restaurant where Gibson famously ranted in 2006 — Moonshadows Malibu — was also reportedly destroyed in the fire.
The restaurant was where Gibson made his infamous antisemitic remarks during a drunken driving arrest, a moment that had significant repercussions for his career.
However, despite the loss of his property, much of Gibson’s ire remained directed at Governor Newsom.
He criticized Newsom’s unfulfilled promises to address forest management and fire prevention.
“I think all our tax dollars probably went to Gavin’s hair gel,” Gibson quipped, poking fun at the Governor’s image and leadership.
A New Chapter in Filmmaking
While he continues to criticize the state’s leadership, Gibson is also staying busy with his career.
He recently returned to filmmaking with Flight Risk, an action thriller starring Mark Wahlberg.
The movie centers around a pilot who turns out to be an assassin, complicating the lives of his passengers.
Despite the star-studded cast, Flight Risk received poor reviews, with Rotten Tomatoes critics giving it a mere 24% score.
The film, which had a $25 million budget, has grossed just shy of $42 million.
Gibson’s latest public foray into politics, however, shows no signs of slowing down.
As California’s leadership continues to face intense scrutiny, it seems the actor-director-activist is ready to keep making his voice heard.