Mel Gibson, the actor and director famous for films like “We Were Soldiers,” “Braveheart” and “Mad Max,” recently appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast, which platform Gibson used to level some serious criticisms at the impeccably coiffed California governor.
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That proved to be a great irony, as while Gibson was criticizing Newsom’s lack of ability, Gibson’s Malibu mansion was burning down, victim, like so many homes and businesses, of the wildfires raging out of control in southern California.
Talk about having your point made for you.
Mel Gibson visited the rubble of his $14.5 million Malibu mansion Wednesday, one week after it burned down in the Palisades Fire.
The actor, 69, was escorted through his neighborhood in a firetruck and then surveyed the damage done to his home of 15 years.
He was photographed shaking hands with the firefighters and thanked them for for their efforts in battling the multiple blazes.
Gibson, who was dressed in a blue flannel shirt, jeans and a black hat, found an end table in the rubble that he took with him, according to TMZ.
Gibson was joined by a NewsNation reporter and California first responders for a ride-along where they toured the destroyed Los Angeles properties.
In the photos accompanying the article, Gibson appears cheerful, acting graciously and with gratitude towards the first responders with whom he was photographed.
Previously on RedState: Report: Hunter Biden Artworks Worth ‘Millions of Dollars’ Burned Up in LA Fires
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The “Lethal Weapon” star wasn’t done criticizing the government for the destruction of his home and thousands of others.
The “Mad Max” star asked one of the first responders if they knew that “the reservoir was empty,” to which the firefighter responded that the fire crew ran out of water “fairly quickly.”
“It’s not uncommon for us to lose water in our firefight. It’s just that early in the game was surprising,” the firefighter explained.
Gibson replied, “Because yeah, it wasn’t there. And no one told you? That’s crazy.”
On Joe Rogan’s podcast, Gibson had stated:
“In 2019, I think Newsom said, you know, ‘I’m going to take care of the forest and maintain the forest’ and do all that kind of stuff,” Gibson said on the podcast. “He didn’t do anything.”
Granted Mel Gibson’s criticisms aren’t new. Many have leveled the same criticisms at Governor Newsom, who may be seeing his political career go up in flames even hotter than those that destroyed Pacific Palisades, as well as at Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and the diverse but incompetent leaders of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD.) But somehow Gibson’s loss, and his grace in accepting it (at least, publically) personalizes it for many of us who don’t know anyone affected by the blaze.
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Yes, there is an odd cult of celebrity in much of the world right now, wherein some people feel a connection to actors, singers, and so forth. But right or wrong, people do feel this way, some do feel a crisis personalize when it hits someone who we have been enjoying in television and movies for years.
Someone like Mel Gibson.
Sadly, this happened, not only to Mel Gibson but to thousands of Californians, many of whom now feel their faith in their state officials was badly misplaced. But while we can sympathize with Gibson and acknowledge his seeming grace in accepting it and in dealing with the firefighters he spoke with, we should also remember what he was saying to Joe Rogan while his house was ablaze – and maybe the people of the Los Angeles area should start listening to him and others who think like him.
