Mel Gibson is a legend. Not only a stellar actor, but an even more incredible director. Everyone knows that if it wasn’t for a few drunken anti-Semitic rants or his staunch Catholicism, Hollywood would be giving him awards and fawning all over him. Instead, Gibson is marginalized in terms of critical acclaim, while still producing quality work, and being sought after for others’ works.

See the first two sentences of the above paragraph.

No matter how hard Hollywood virtue signals, when it all comes down to it, it’s about the work: this work creates money, which Hollywood loves, and this money helps to create more work. The town is full of pedophiles, misogynists, abusers, and other detritus who make themselves, and others, a ton of money—why do you think Harvey Weinstein and Bryan Singer stayed around for so long. Compared to that lot, Mel Gibson is a saint.

Which is why Mel Gibson will never be cancelled, and our cultural and cinematic landscape will be the better for it. So, instead of going after Gibson alone, people are now trying to go after anyone who chooses to work with him.

Enter Eddie Marsan, a British actor who had the grand opportunity to work with Gibson on a 2019 film, The Professor and The Madman. This film also stars Sean Penn, who last time I checked, was not a nice human being, on top of being a Leftist idiot. But let’s make it all about Mel.

Marsan has a long and productive career of his own, starring in films like Gangs of New York, the Robert Downey, Jr. Sherlock Holmes series, and Hobbs and Shaw, as well as television shows like Ray Donovan, for which he has had a recurring role as the main character’s brother. Marsan is no lightweight, and is sought after for his craft. He’s at a point in his career where he can choose where and with whom he wishes to work.

According to his Twitter profile, Marsan is a Humanist: people who believe in being good for goodness sake, without the help of an outside theological construct. The context of this will become evident soon enough.

Marsan retweeted and commented on a Tweet by Dan Fox, a British politico, who requested Twitter Support take down some online harassment against him (good luck with that). Marsan expressed his bewilderment at such behavior and his solidarity with Dan Fox:

It never ceases to amaze me that the followers of a movement that claims to be benevolent at heart, who’s own leader described it as “nicer, gentler politics” continually do the most atrocious things, as though their political allegiance gives them the right to. Solidarity Dan. https://t.co/mgVR6E65df

— Eddie Marsan (@eddiemarsan) July 7, 2021

It never ceases to amaze me that the followers of a movement that claims to be benevolent at heart, who’s own leader described it as “nicer, gentler politics” continually do the most atrocious things, as though their political allegiance gives them the right to. Solidarity Dan.

Someone under the moniker of “black lives matter” (how original), decided to respond to Marsan’s tweet with a picture of him and Mel Gibson in The Professor and the Madman, and asked him,

How’s your pal, the noted antisemite Mel Gibson, Eddie?

How's your pal, the noted antisemite Mel Gibson, Eddie? pic.twitter.com/ylJKoaJC6s

— black lives matter (@jrc1921) July 7, 2021

So, doing a film role with someone now makes you “pals”? Curious. I have had a lot of jobs—by choice—and maybe a handful of co-workers have ultimately become friends; but, it’s not an automatic thing, especially in entertainment. You do the work, you earn the paycheck, you go on to the next gig. Anything additional is a bonus.

Or not…

Keep in mind, these are probably the same people who defend Woody Allen and Roman Polanski to the eye teeth and turned a blind eye to Harvey Weinstein; but Mel Gibson? Beyond the pale!

Marsan’s response was pretty epic:

I don’t know, I’ve not seen him since the film finished shooting in 2016. I went on to do Ray Donovan with Jon Voight who I also politically disagree with . It’s funny that, the world is full of people I disagree with and sometimes I have to interact with them. Who knew?

I don’t know, I’ve not seen him since the film finished shooting in 2016. I went on to do Ray Donovan with Jon Voight who I also politically disagree with . It’s funny that, the world is full of people I disagree with and sometimes I have to interact with them. Who knew? https://t.co/UgRVUUJOK8

— Eddie Marsan (@eddiemarsan) July 7, 2021

Another commenter took this as Marsan’s endorsement of Gibson, and said as much. Marsan clapped back appropriately:

That’s all you’ve got??? I’m 53 years old, I’ve done a lot worst than appear in a film with Mel Gibson. THE PROFESSOR AND AND THE MADMAN. It also stars Sean Penn, Stephen Dillane, Steve Coogan oh…& Laurence Fox. I didn’t cast it but my acting is pretty good, if I say so myself

That’s all you’ve got??? I’m 53 years old, I’ve done a lot worst than appear in a film with Mel Gibson. THE PROFESSOR AND AND THE MADMAN. It also stars Sean Penn, Stephen Dillane, Steve Coogan oh…& Laurence Fox. I didn’t cast it but my acting is pretty good, if I say so myself. https://t.co/Tj71rJNaAc

— Eddie Marsan (@eddiemarsan) July 7, 2021

Beautifully done, and echoes back to my comment about Sean Penn; but because he spouts the correct political diatribes, no one is trying to cancel him. One of the problems with this Cancel Culture is that the people you assume think like you, and that you can support, end up doing something you cannot tolerate, and therefore must be eliminated. It’s its own self-own, the perfect picture of a circular firing squad. When you start eating your own, sooner or later, there is no one left to eat.

Another commenter agreed with Marsan, and put it squarely where it belongs: It’s about being an adult and navigating the world through that lens. But, this is the generation that created the term: “adulting”. Which lets you know that they are not at all enthused on having to do it.

Well said Eddie. We all have to get along with ppl who have views we don't agree with, it's part of life, and about being a grown up.

— Lyra Silvertongue (@HeavenMarie47) July 7, 2021

On the recent death of Director Richard Donner (The Lethal Weapon series—Hello!), Gibson had these gracious words to say about the director who pretty much was responsible for placing Mel Gibson on his road to stardom.

“Donner! My friend, my mentor. Oh, the things I learned from him! He undercut his own talent and greatness with a huge chunk of humility referring to himself as ‘merely a traffic cop.’ He left his ego at the door and required that of others,” Gibson said. “He was magnanimous of heart and soul, which he liberally gave to all who knew him. If we piled up all the good deeds he did, it would stretch to some uncharted place in the firmament. I will sorely miss him, with all his mischievous wit and wisdom.”

The beauty of the human condition is that it is our greatest triumphs, our greatest failures, and the stuff in between that shape every person, and that person’s contribution to society. Gibson has contributed, and continues to contribute, a wealth to the cinematic arts. With his seminal work, The Passion, he also contributed greatly to a deeper conversation on the Christian faith.

You will never succeed in canceling that.