Steven Spielberg Letter to Mel Gibson
Netlore Archive: Circulating via email, a letter purportedly written by Steven Spielberg taking actor Mel Gibson to task for making anti-Semitic remarks during his arrest for drunk driving in August 2006
Description: Email hoax
Circulating since: August 2006
Status: False
Analysis: See below
Email example contributed by Barry G., 17 August 2006:
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THE FOLLOWING LETTER WAS WRITTEN BY STEVEN SPIELBERG |
Comments: I spoke by phone with Steven Spielberg's publicist, who told me the acclaimed director of Schindler's List and Munich did not write this letter.
Who did write it remains a mystery -- all the more so because some copies are signed "Steven Silberberg" instead of "Steven Spielberg." In any case, Spielberg resides in southern California, not New Rochelle, New York.
To date, Spielberg has not spoken publicly about Mel Gibson's anti-Semitic tirade when he was arrested for drunken driving in July 2006 ("The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world," he reportedly said to the arresting officer. "Are you a Jew?"), nor his subsequent apology, so we don't know to what extent, if any, he might agree with the sentiments expressed in the letter false attributed to him. Apart from a strongly worded statement by show biz agent Ari Emanuel calling for the industry to "shun" Mel Gibson, the bright lights of Hollywood have, for the most part, remained mute on the subject.
Sources and further reading:
Mel Gibson Arrested for DUI
People magazine, 28 July 2006Gibson Apologizes for Behavior
CNN, 29 July 2006Official Police Report Includes Gibson's Remarks
Associated Press, 31 July 2006Holly wood's Cowardice
Washington Post, 9 August 2006
Last updated: 08/22/06
