London, Sept 10 (ANI): Jewish groups and the Anti-Defamation League have demanded Warner Bros. to bar Mel Gibson from producing a movie about the Jewish struggle against tyranny.
The 55-year-old actor, who in the past used barrage of anti-Semitic insults, had signed to produce a movie about Judah Maccabee - the Jewish warrior who defeated the Greek-Syrian armies in the second century B.C.
"We would have hoped that Warner Bros. could have found someone better than Mel Gibson to direct or perhaps even star in a film on the life of the Jewish historical icon Judah Maccabee," the Daily Mail quoted the group as saying in a statement.
"As a hero of the Jewish people and a universal hero in the struggle for religious liberty, Judah Maccabee deserves better.
"It would be a travesty to have the story of the Maccabees told by one who has no respect and sensitivity for other people's religious views.
"Not only has Mel Gibson shown outward antagonism toward Jews and Judaism in his public statements and actions, but his previous attempt to bring biblical history to life on the screen was marred by anti-Semitism.
"While we do not argue with Mel Gibson's right to make this film, we still strongly believe that Warner Bros. should reconsider Gibson's involvement in this project," the group stated.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Rabbi Marvin Hier, from LA's Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance said that Gibson had only shown disrespect for the Jews and that Warner Bros. is making a terrible mistake.
"Mel Gibson has shown nothing but antagonism and disrespect to Jews. First of all there were the anti-Semitic remarks he made, his portrayal of Jews in The Passion of Christ...," Hier said.
"Warner Bros. is making a terrible mistake. Most of the people that are going to come to a film about Judah Maccabee are the Jewish community.
"Surely they know the Jewish communities are not going to come to this film," he added. (ANI)
|
|
Comments:
