Twitter attempts to cancel Mel Gibson's 'Fatman' over past anti-Semitic remarks and domestic violence allegations 

Mel Gibson is playing a cantankerous version of Santa Claus in his latest film, 'Fatman', and the internet is not happy.

The 64-year-old Academy Award winner, who is known for his portrayal of Max Rockatansky in the Mad Max series, and has given us hits like 'Braveheart' and 'The Passion of The Christ', is now facing intense backlash online after the release of the trailer of his upcoming black comedy film, Fatman.

In the new trailer for Fatman, Santa Claus (Mel Gibson) gets locked into a deadly battle of wits against an assassin hired by a 12-year-old boy who got a lump of coal for Christmas. https://t.co/KEbscyNAzj pic.twitter.com/Ci9m3zXJnc

— IGN (@IGN) October 7, 2020

While the makers of the film seem to have pulled out all the stops in showcasing a unique version of Father Christmas, the casting of Mel Gibson has enraged the online community, who plan to boycott the film on account of his problematic anti-Semitic views and domestic violence allegations.

When people say “cancel culture is real,” remind them of the time that raging misogynist and anti-Semite Mel Gibson got paid millions of dollars to play Santa Claus. 😒 https://t.co/1HA55Td4gv

— April (@ReignOfApril) October 8, 2020

The Twitter community has spoken out against the film and Mel Gibson, who has been embroiled in numerous controversies over the course of his four-decade-long career.

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The problematic persona of Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson's latest film 'Fatman' is a twisted tale on a disgruntled man called Chris Cringle (portrayed by Gibson), who also happens to be Santa Claus.

The film co-stars Walton Goggins (Django Unchained, The Hateful Eight) and Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Blindspot, Homecoming) and is scheduled to release on the 13th of November.

A still from Fatman (Image Credits: Deadline)

Over the course of his career, Mel Gibson has often been called out by fans and members of the industry for his insensitive and anti-Semitic remarks. In 2006, he was infamously arrested for drunk driving and was also heard spewing hatred against the Jewish community.

Despite him apologising for his vitriolic rant that very year, his remarks proved to be the tipping point for a large section of the community.

He is often known for his rants and problematic tirades on religion and faith, which have never failed to invoke the ire of the online community. Apart from that, he has also faced domestic abuse allegations as well as a restraining order from his ex-partner, Oksana Grigorieva.

Recently, in June, he was also embroiled in an exchange with popular actress Winona Ryder, where he reportedly asked if she was as an 'oven dodger' which is apparently a derogatory reference to her Jewish background.

From being an alleged homophobic to an accused racist, the online community have certainly not forgotten any of Mel Gibson's past demeanours as they took to Twitter to vehemently oppose the release of his new film:

They let Mel Gibson make movies despite his homophobic & anti-semitic rants. He told his wife she'd be "r***d by a pack of ni****s" and they STILL let him make movies & win Oscars.Saw him trending, looked up the producers for his next movie and it's no one I'll miss.✌🏽 pic.twitter.com/gaztoivGn9

— Fifty Shades of Whey (@davenewworld_2) October 8, 2020

kinda sucks that mel gibson can trade on his 80s reputation for camp skipping over the fact that he's a deranged anti-semitie https://t.co/QGVQwawW2H

— David Grossman (@davidgross_man) October 8, 2020

If you want me to watch your movie, don’t cast Mel Gibson.

— number one yoga dad (@HalpernAlex) October 8, 2020

Mel Gibson is trending.Reminder, he punched his girlfriend in the face, broke her nose and knocked out her teeth. But movie.....

— Mystery Solvent (@MysterySolvent) October 8, 2020

Unrepentant anti-semite Mel Gibson? The one who drunkenly told a woman to go get raped Mel Gibson? That Mel Gibson? The Mel Gibson who made a 'blame the jews' movie about Jesus? That one? https://t.co/lktG85tNLi

— Ryan Malis (@NayrmanBSC) October 8, 2020

I miss the days when we didn't know exactly who Mel Gibson was. pic.twitter.com/lu78F1BrjG

— Nicole Minet (@mouvement33) October 8, 2020

mel gibson is trending but it’s not because he died pic.twitter.com/CPY2lZU6Rx

— dev (@toesucka_) October 8, 2020

Don't @ me about "cancel culture"Mel Gibson still has a career despite his domestic abuse and antisemitism, and wait 'til you hear about Polanski's career.

— Cowsey S. Pumpkins (@CaseyExplosion) October 9, 2020

Reminder that Mel Gibson is an antisemitic, anti-Black bigot who physically assaulted his girlfriend.He blamed Jews for “all the wars in the world.”He called Winona Ryder an “oven dodger.”Santa Claus doesn’t exist. Gibson’s career renaissance shouldn’t either.

— Bend the Arc: Jewish Action (@jewishaction) October 8, 2020

Do I want to know why Holocaust-denier, woman-abuser and racist Mel Gibson is trending? I still don't understand why violently abusive men are still able to make movies. Gibson beat the mother of his youngest child so badly he broke her nose and other bones in her face.

— Victoria Brownworth #MonstrousLadyCommunist (@VABVOX) October 8, 2020

Why is Mel Gibson still a thing? as far as cancel culture goes this was probably the closest we got. he vanished for 10 years then started slowly reappearing a few years ago like nothing's happened. we haven't forgotten your racism & antisemitism Gibson, go away https://t.co/pyboUhM2A2

— Kandy Slone. Wakanda Forever (@SloneKandy) October 8, 2020

Not only will I not be spending money on a movie starring noted asshole bigot Mel Gibson, I actually think less of Walton Goggins for working with Gibson to make the film in the first place. https://t.co/UnfFjrNzX4

— Miserable Little Pie of Secrets (@jsrnz) October 9, 2020

Amid mounting dissent, this festival season certainly doesn't seem to look too jolly for Mel Gibson, who continues to face the music for his problematic past actions.