Uproar after Mel Gibson spotted saluting Donald Trump
Footage of Mel Gibson saluting Donald Trump when they briefly crossed paths at Saturday’s MMA fight has emerged, causing the actor to trend on social media.
Gibson appeared to be a few metres away from the former president and gave a distinct salute as Trump walked by and waved at the crowd at UFC 24.
The moment occurred at Saturday’s UFC fight between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor which resulted in McGregor breaking his leg in the first round after his left leg buckled underneath him.
Some praised Gibson for the act, dubbing him a “patriot”.
“Yoooooo!!! Is that Mel Gibson saluting President Trump?” one person tweeted.
“The Patriot Saluting President Trump,” they later added, alongside a video of the interaction captured by another user.
Gibson was videoed at other points during the fight.
“Hey, I want to see the rematch, you know best out of three,” Gibson said. “I don’t care who wins. I just want to see a good match, and I’m sure it will be.”
Other users criticised the interaction as another controversial move by the actor.
“Mel Gibson is who we thought he was,” one person said.
“There is no such thing as cancel culture if Mel Gibson isn’t cancelled by now,” another added.
The star of Lethal Weapon and Braveheart has become controversial in Hollywood due to antisemitic comments he has made over several decades and allegations he was physically abusive to his former girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva.
Image: @petsh0pboy / Twitter