TMZ has learned Mel Gibson exploded in anger last night on a college campus after an expert on Mayan culture accussed him of racially stereotyping the Mayans in the movie "Apocalypto."
It happened last night at Cal State University at Northridge in the San Fernando Valley. Gibson was speaking to a film class about his movies, and several members of the Mayan community came to hear the famous director.
After Gibson's presentation, the crowd was allowed to ask questions. Alicia Estrada, an Assistant Professor of Central American Studies at CSUN, challenged Gibson, asking him if he had read about the Mayan culture before shooting the controversial film. Gibson said he had.
Estrada persisted, stating that representations in the movie that the Mayans engaged in sacrificial ceremonies and had bloodthirsty tendencies were both wrong and racist. Estrada and others tell TMZ that Gibson exploded in anger, responding, "Lady, F**k off."
We're told Gibson also became extremely angry when members of the Mayan community protested on how they were portrayed in the film. The emotional Mayan members were escorted out of the room, and we're told Gibson screamed a parting shot -- "Make your own movie!"
UPDATE: Gibson's publicist, Alan Nierob, told TMZ, "This person was a heckler who was rude and disrupted the event, so much so that the event organizers had to escort her out." For the record, Nierob, not Howard Rubenstein, reps Gibson.
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Well maybe the Mayans should make their own movie...Its Ok criticising after a movie is done.....Many nationalities have been blood thirsty over the centuries... Britain , and France and Spain...even Holland fought for land,.......Look at the USA now... can't tell me that its not blodthirsty !!! Iraq, Afghanistan, Viet Nam.........
C'mon Mayans....so you were a little blood thirsty.......... Deal with it !
Well this is going to be all over the news.He is a psycho nutcase. I never liked Mel and I think he is racist just like his dad. Who would know more about the Mayian culture than the people themselves? Mel is an arrogant a**hole.
I guess that's what happens when you appropriate another culture for financial gain. People will call you on it. Suck it up like a big boy, Mel.
Mel's done plenty of damage to his reputation on his own...however this one smells like a setup from a mile away.
I think this is a time for the Mayan's to make a movie or documentary about their culture. But it must be accurate in order to fairly compare it to Mel's movie (which I have not seen yet).
Until then, their bitching is futile.
No nationality wants an 'outsider' to place a spotlight on the negatives of their culture, and the Mayan's are no different.
What is wrong with people....He makes a movie about Christ and the Catholics go nuts saying its too bloodthirsty too.....He is Catholic.....
Religion, Wars and people in general do have a tendency to be bloodthirsty........Look at video games and movies in general....
Give the guy a break..........Seems to me no-one will be satified until we are all 'controlled' completely.....what we say, what we do, what we think, where we go............some future our grandchildren have waiting for them..........
Ignore the b@stards Mel......everyone wants a piece of your action...... too right what you told her to do to herself........
Are all celebrities drunks -- or are all drunks celebrities?
