Mad Mel or the martyrof Malibu?

The fallout continues after Mel Gibson's arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence in Malibu last weekend, and the belligerent, anti-Semitic remarks he is alleged to have made to a police officer at the time.

Gibson later apologised for saying "despicable things" that he "does not believe to be true". Veteran US TV chat show presenter Barbara Walters expressed her displeasure on her ABC show, The View, saying: "Well, I don't know how the rest of you feel, and I usually don't come out this strong one way or another about a movie, but I don't think I want to see any more Mel Gibson movies."

Disney has the daunting task of releasing Gibson's new movie as a director, Apocalypto, which is in the Mayan language, in the US next December, and studio president Oren Aviv has accepted Gibson's first "apology to what was a regrettable situation". It took a second, more remorseful apology for the director of the Anti-Defamation League to say that: "I hope he wants to put it behind him. You need to work hard at it, and we're ready to help him."

Catholic League president Bill Donohue weighed in, saying: "Mel's enemies will never cut him a break. Their real goal is to discredit The Passion of the Christ, and that is why their propaganda machine is in full gear. How ironic it is to note that the core message of his film - forgiveness - is sorely lacking in his critics." Donohue accused Hollywood of hypocrisy for looking past other personal scandals: "In 2003, Roman Polanski, the convicted child rapist, received a standing ovation when he won an Oscar for The Pianist. Nice to know what really offends Hollywood."