Winning SAG’s Best Supporting Actor for “Oppenheimer” was sweet for Robert Downey Jr., but his nod to Mel Gibson in the thank-you’s stirred the pot. Downey Jr. thanking Gibson, a figure shadowed by controversies from racist outbursts to antisemitic comments, has folks on social media scratching their heads and dropping their jaws.
The move sparked immediate backlash, with many questioning the choice to highlight Gibson’s influence in such a public forum in 2024. Yet, Downey Jr.'s bond with Gibson is deep, rooted in a pivotal moment when Gibson cast him in “The Singing Detective” in 2003, essentially throwing him a career lifeline.
In the past, Downey Jr. has been vocal about his gratitude, previously advocating for Gibson’s forgiveness in the industry, despite the controversies.
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