Posted May 15th 2008 12:33PM by TMZ Staff
Unholy Moses! Mel Gibson and Britney Spears are going on vacation together? Apocalypto!
The Mayor of Mel-ibu is taking his neighbor Brit to Costa Rica, reports "The Insider," and they just left about half an hour ago from L.A. Brit is apparently with Papa Jamie but can't take the rugrats because they aren't allowed outside the US without special approval. Not totally random, of course: the crazazy pair had dinner at a Studio City restaurant a couple months back.
In a related development, the TMZ universe has officially imploded.
Filed under: Britney Spears, Mel Gibson
Posted May 11th 2008 11:40AM by TMZ Staff
Mel Gibson proved his acting skills yet again last night, first showing some pretty serious anger and seconds later turning on the charm.
As Mel left Marmalade Cafe in Malibu just before 8 PM with a restaurant manager, they saw the paparazzi. A clearly p.o.'d Mel told the guy, "These guys are f**king your business, dude. They're f**king with your business." Then, almost immediately, when he got closer to the paps, Mel was pretty pleasant. Of course he was -- it's not like he owns Malibu.
Filed under: Mel Gibson
Posted Mar 20th 2008 4:06PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has learned the man who committed suicide on Mel Gibson's property was a construction foreman on a number of movie sets, including "The Matrix Reloaded," and "Dr. Dolittle 2," "Star Trek: Nemesis," and "Karate Kid II."
We're told the victim is Michael John Van Dyke. Van Dyke was 48-years-old, and was listed as a prop foreman for the remake of "Psycho."
Sources say Van Dyke was a long-time friend of the contractor hired on Gibson's property and was going through financial troubles. He had no connection to Gibson.
We've learned Michael went through a messy, protracted divorce a few years ago. People who worked with him on the "Star Trek: Nemesis" set say he was in desperate financial shape. His ex-wife is a hair stylist for movies.
Van Dyke had a twin brother, Robert, who also works construction in the film business.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Mel Gibson
Posted Mar 20th 2008 12:30PM by TMZ Staff
Mel Gibson feels "terrible" that someone committed suicide on one of his properties -- this according to a rep who spoke with TMZ.
As we first reported, a construction worker's body was found hanging in a structure on the property. We're told it was a suicide. Gibson has never lived on the property and has no current plans to move in. It's located less than a mile from the Holy Family Catholic Church, founded by Mel.
So far, the name of the 48-year-old construction worker has not been id'd. We're told Mel has no idea who the victim is -- we don't know if Mel's ever seen him.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Mel Gibson
Posted Mar 19th 2008 7:39PM by TMZ Staff
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ a construction worker committed suicide at one of Mel Gibson's homes today.
It happened at Mel's Agoura Hills home -- near Malibu. The construction worker was 48-years-old. We're told he hanged himself. The body was found by the job site foreman.
The Sheriff's substation in Lost Hills took the call at 8:07 AM -- that's the same station where Mel was taken after his DUI arrest in 2006.
Mel was not at the house when the body was discovered. A law enforcement source says no one from Gibson's family was living at the house -- it is currently under heavy construction.
The house is less than a mile from his church -- The Holy Family Catholic Church -- where Mel's daughter was married back in September, 2006.
Mel has never lived on the compound.
UPDATE: Law enforcement sources say the body was found hanging in the addition to the home that was being built and was in "full-body rigor mortis" and the hanging could have occurred last night.
Story developing ...
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Mel Gibson
Posted Feb 13th 2008 4:51PM by TMZ Staff
A judge has told a cooperative and respectful Mel Gibson his DUI nightmare that began in July of 2006 is now over. Although the actor still has another 18 months of probation, he has completed the requirements of his plea. The judge told Mel, "Now you're on your own," adding, "This will be the most difficult time for you, but you're well on your way to success."
The judge then wished Gibson good luck, adding there was no need for future progress reports.
Story developing ...
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Mel Gibson
Posted Feb 13th 2008 4:48PM by TMZ Staff
The judge in Mel Gibson's DUI progress hearing has denied the media's request to film the proceedings, claiming there are restraining orders against individuals who are allegedly threatening Mel Gibson!
We're told there are two restraining orders in place against two mentally ill individuals. One of those ROs was issued in Malibu.
Story developing ...
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Mel Gibson
Posted Feb 13th 2008 4:02PM by TMZ Staff
Mel Gibson has just arrived at a Malibu Courthouse to face the judge for his final progress report. He's wearing a dark blue suit, light blue shirt and tie.
Gibson has already had a series of hearings, and the judge has given the actor high marks for his progress and rehabilitation.
As TMZ first reported, Gibson went on an irate anti-Semitic tirade during his arrest in Malibu for DUI in July of 2006. He pleaded no contest in August of '06 to misdemeanor of driving with a .08 blood alcohol level or higher and agreed to three years probation, to attend one year of AA meetings and to pay a fine and restitution.
TMZ is in court for the hearing. Stay tuned!
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Mel Gibson
Posted Feb 11th 2008 5:10PM by TMZ Staff
The man who wrote the movie "The Passion of the Christ" is suing Mel Gibson, claiming the director short-changed him by saying it would be a small film -- and not the big budget, big bucks flick it turned out to be.
According to papers filed today in Los Angeles Superior Court, Benedict Fitzgerald claims that Gibson's "personal gift to his faith" was to have a budget in the $4-7 million range -- and there wouldn't be a lot of money in the budget for the writer. He was also told several times by Gibson, he claims, that Gibson didn't plan to make any money from the film.
Click here... it's not over yet
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Mel Gibson
Posted Jan 11th 2008 1:57PM by TMZ Staff
The last time Mel Gibson was found grinning at a restaurant in Malibu, well, we all know what happened.
No reports of any wayward driving, misogynistic comments, or anti-Semitic rants -- as yet, a full day after this snap was taken! Thank you, Jesus!
Filed under: Mel Gibson
Posted Dec 20th 2007 3:53PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has info on the report issued by the independent panel that reviewed procedures in the Mel Gibson arrest, and the conclusion is -- no cover-up.
As you may recall, on the day of the arrest, TMZ was told by Sheriff's officials that it was "without incident." In fact, Gibson went on a rant which included an anti-semitic tirade. We obtained and published four pages of an arrest report outlining Gibson's conduct that had been removed from the official report.
In its findings, the review commission noted that the four pages included "inflammatory comments." Now here's the justification for what went down.
"Because of a concern about certain information gathered during the arrest falling prematurely into the hands of media sources and because there was no clear Departmental guidance provided on how to handle this scenario presented, supervisors made spontaneous decisions with regard to how to package the information and describe the arrest. While these decisions do not indicate a violation of department policy, and were fairly sensible, they do point out the need for creating a thoughtful and systematic approach for how to handle future similar scenarios."
The findings go on -- "The initial response from first and second level supervisors was to order that the comments be entirely stricken from the police report as unnecessary. However, before being implemented, that instruction was modified by the unit commander, who proposed that the comments not be included in the narrative of the report but that they be placed instead in a supplemental report."
Here's the upshot from the review panel: "In sum, the collection and documentation of information incident to the arrest was timely and appropriately provided to the District Attorney so that he could make appropriate charging decisions."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Mel Gibson, Meltdowns
Posted Dec 10th 2007 2:50PM by TMZ Staff
D.U.I. darling Mel Gibson is back in the hot seat -- just in time for Hanukkah.
According to the Turkish newspaper Zaman, something called The Foundation for the Struggle Against Baseless Allegations of Genocide (ASİMED) has launched an e-mail campaign to try and dissuade the tequila-swilling star from taking part in an upcoming film about the genocide of Armenians during World War I.
Mel probably won't put up much of a fight. His rep tells TMZ: "We don't know where that started. He doesn't know anything about the project. Never heard of it." Oops!
Filed under: Gossip/Rumors, Mel Gibson
Posted Nov 19th 2007 2:52PM by TMZ Staff
The Los Angeles Lakers trounced the Chicago Bulls last night at Staples Center, much to the chagrin of Mel Gibson and his son.
Courtside seats for Lakers games usually run over $2,000 a piece. Why's Mel so glum? Perhaps because he was roundly booed when his face appeared on the Jumbotron. We're told that Mel then stuck out his tongue, causing further booing.
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, Mel Gibson
Posted Nov 7th 2007 5:17PM by TMZ Staff
That globe-trotting loose cannon, Mel Gibson, has landed in Las Vegas -- and TMZ spotted him in the most unlikely of places ... nightclubs! The last temptation of Mel!
TMZ obtained this photo of Mr. Tirade himself, walking into one of Sin City's hottest clubs, PURE at Caesars Palace. Sources inside tell us that Gibson headed up to the VIP stage and had the shades drawn. Now that's ballin'! Mel was also peeped on Tuesday while checkin' the scene at another top-notch club, JET at the Mirage.
Mel sipped on Red Bull and water most of the time -- good thing for him, because he still has to appear at a DUI progress report in February.
We've also heard that Mel Gibson partied at Blush in the Wynn Hotel. Our spies tell us he had a private table and was spotted dancing with Eddie Murphy's ex-wife Nicole. Nice!
Filed under: Train Wrecks, Paparazzi Photo, Wacky and Weird, Mel Gibson
Posted Oct 2nd 2007 2:03PM by TMZ Staff
Maybe Jesus isn't the only one who can turn water into wine?!
DUI darling and self-professed King of Malibu, Mel Gibson, got his swerve on while partying at The Living Room bar in Bali last month. Passionfruit martini of the Anti-Christ! In August, a judge ruled that Mel's attendance at AA meetings were now voluntary. Dranks to that!
Reps for the sweaty, zoned-out 51-year-old "Tequila Sunrise" star could not be reached for comment.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Paparazzi Photo, Mel Gibson
