Robin's 'Mel Gibson' wake up call

Oct 2, 2006, 15:18 GMT

Czech-born model Petra Nemcova (L) and American actor Robin Williams (R) EPA/SVEN HOOGERHUIS

Robin Williams says Mel Gibson's arrest for drunk-driving was "a big wake-up call".

The 'Man of the Year' actor recently returned to rehab to continue his fight against alcoholism, the same day that Gibson was arrested for drunk-driving.

During his arrest the 'Lethal Weapon' star launched into an anti-Semitic tirade, in which he said: "The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world."

Williams admits the incident showed him just how easy it is too fall off the wagon and fall from grace.

He told Access Hollywood: "If you're violating your standards faster than you can lower them, time to go away.

"I went to rehab the same day that Mel Gibson was arrested on Pacific Coast Highway. I think it allowed me a certain anonymity.

"God does have a sense of humour that he was stopped by the only Jewish highway patrolman."

When Williams checked himself into rehab, his agent issued a statement saying: "He found himself drinking again and decided to take proactive measures to deal with this for his own well-being and the well-being of his family."

Williams has also dismissed claims that he and Gibson were in touch while they were both going through treatment.

He clarified: "We never met, and we were supposedly keeping correspondence. But I have Jewish agents so I haven't gotten any messages."

Williams famously incorporated jokes about his excessive drinking into his stand-up comedy routines in the 70s, and has never made a secret of his problems with alcohol.

(C) BANG Media International