Mel Gibson's gay brother speaks out in actor's defense

In the last two decades of interviews, Mel Gibson has revealed himself to be misogynistic, anti-Semitic, rather rude, and perhaps slightly deranged. But, left off this list of transgressions (I guess), are accusations of homophobia, since his adopted, estranged gay brother Andrew Gibson came to his defense.

In an interview with Australia's Sunday Times, Andrew "broke his silence" and explained a particularly off-color comment that Mel Gibson made back in 1991 to El Pais magazine. Discussing the perception that many actors were gay, Mel Gibson said:

"I became an actor despite that. But with this look, who's going to think I'm gay? It would be hard to take me for someone like that. Do I sound like a homosexual? Do I talk like them? Do I move like them?" 

In his brother's defense, Andrew Gibson recently explained to the Sunday Times:

"He's a straight man and he was illustrating that fact. In the same way a gay man wouldn't want to have sex with a woman. He never meant to upset anyone. I have never once heard anything anti-gay come out of his mouth....(Coming out) was one of the most terrifying things I have ever done. I was twenty two. When I told my dad he cried and blamed himself he felt he had done something wrong. That broke my heart and I told him it wasn't my fault. I think they all suspected. I was at a family dinner at Aria restaurant when I told Mel. He just said, 'It's not my choice, but I love you and you're my brother'."

Its a touching story, but it's not exactly going to make the public forget Mel's years of hate-speak. Andrew also failed to explain what was meant in the same interview when Mel, referring to homosexuals said, "They take it in the ass," and then, pointing to his own posterior, said, "This is only for taking a shit."

So where does this leave us and the state of Mel's tarnished reputation? With more questions, apparently. Principle among them: why has it taken twenty years for the actor's brother to come to his defense? No matter the answer, this landmark event is deserving of a sense of gaiety (pun completely intended). So, thanks Andrew! Mel, we still think you're a douchebag.