The recording was released by screenwriter Joe Eszterhas. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Mel Gibson has continued his tradition of explosive, expletive-filled rants caught on tape.
The Wrap has obtained a two and a half minute recording of Gibson going on a rage-filled tirade last December, in the presence of “The Maccabees” screenwriters Randall Wallace and Joe Eszterhas at his home in Costa Rica. The rant, in which he calls ex Oksana Grigorieva a “filthy little [bleep]sucker,” was reportedly recorded by Eszterhas’ 15-year-old son, who was present at the time of the rant. Several members of Gibson’s household staff and their children, were also reportedly present as Gibson flipped.
“Why don’t I have a first draft of ‘The Maccabees’? What the [bleep] have you been doing?” Gibson bellows on the tape, referring to the film project he was slated to direct about the Jewish uprising which is celebrated during the holiday of Hannukah.
Soon Gibson says of Grigorieva, “I am earning money for a filthy little [bleep]sucker who takes advantage of me!”
In July of 2010, several clips were released online of the actor verbally abusing Grigorieva. In one clip, Gibson dropped the f-bomb more than 20 times in two minutes. He also threatens the mother of his daughter Lucia, now two-years-old, with violence.
Gibson and writer Eszterhas have gotten into a public battle in the past week, following Warner Bros’ decision to pull the plug on “The Maccabees.”
In a letter obtained by The Wrap, Eszterhas charges Gibson with threatening to kill Grigorieva, and with anti-Semitism.
Eszterhas writes, “I’ve come to the conclusion that the reason you won’t make ‘The Maccabees’ is the ugliest possible one. You hate Jews.”
Gibson soon issued a response letter, through Radar Online, calling Eszterhas’s accusations “utter fabrications.” He held that the project was shelved because the script wasn’t good enough. While he also admitted to exploding at the screenwriter in Costa Rica, he said that he had apologized.
“Honestly, Joe, not only was the script delivered later than you promised, both Warner Brothers and I were extraordinarily disappointed with the draft,” Gibson wrote, in a statement. “I will acknowledge like most creative people I am passionate and intense I did react more strongly than I should have. I promptly sent you a written apology, the colorful words of which you apparently now find offensive.”
Eszterhas released the tape today in response to Gibson’s statement. He tells The Wrap that he decided to make the tape public because, “Gibson called me a liar.”
“The bottom line is it shows to me he badly needs help,” Eszterhas said. “My interest isn’t to damage him with this tape but to prevent damage being done to others, starting with Jews, including Oksana and now, I’m sure, me. I strongly believe that unless he seeks and receives some kind of psychiatric help, someone is going to get hurt.”