Mel's star still shines brightly, US poll shows

Disney backs him: Mel Gibson.
Photo: Reuters

Mel Gibson's drunken anti-Semitic rant has done little to tarnish his Hollywood star, with Walt Disney announcing it will still distribute his new film Apocalypto.

A Walt Disney spokeswoman yesterday rejected reports that the family-oriented company would offload distribution rights to another studio in order to distance itself from the controversy.

Gibson made the anti-Semitic remarks when he was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving last month in California.

Before asking the arresting officer if he was Jewish he said that the Jews had been responsible for all the world's wars.

Gibson's Mayan-language film Apocalypto remains scheduled for release by Walt Disney in December.

Fans too remain behind Gibson. A Fox News poll has found that one in two Americans have a favourable opinion of Gibson, and most say the incident would not impact on their decision to see one of his movies.

Eight out of 10 people said his arrest and negative comments about Jewish people would not make a difference to them. Six per cent said they "definitely" would not go to see Gibson's movies in the future, while 10 per cent said they "probably" wouldn't go.

Apocalypto is told through the eyes of a Mayan man. Gibson has said the film would touch on universal themes about "civilisations and what undermines them".