Mel Gibson’s friends start to come out of shadows

By M&C News Aug 5, 2006, 5:04 GMT

Mel Gibson's friends say he's a "different person" when he's drinking, but an anti-Semite? 

The Los Angeles Times reports that producer Dean Devlin said he and his wife are Jewish, and he considers Gibson – “one of his best friends in Hollywood.”

"If Mel is an anti-Semite, then he spends a lot of time with us, which makes no sense," said Devlin.  He and Gibson met on the film, "The Patriot."

"But he is an alcoholic, and while that makes no excuse for what he said, because there is no excuse, I believe it was the disease speaking, not the man." Explained Devlin.  "I have been with Mel when he has fallen off, and he becomes a completely different person," Devlin said. "It is pretty horrifying."

The Los Angeles Times reports Jodie Foster, who co-starred with Gibson in "Maverick," said she believed he will recover from his latest fall. 

"Is he an anti-Semite? Absolutely not, but it's no secret that he has always fought a terrible battle with alcoholism."

The Times reports that Foster said she does not believe that drunkenness excuses hurtful remarks, but doubts the claims that Gibson has prejudice against Jews.

Gibson "was a shining example of how low you can go when you are young and still pull yourself up, he took his recovery very seriously, which is why I know he is strong enough to get through this now."  Said Foster.