Chapter 209: Teacher Duke and the Videotape

After leaving the Hilton Grand Hotel, Arthur Miller and Frank Pierson did not go home. Instead, they hurried to Wilshire Street in Beverly Hills, the headquarters of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Levi Roseman, the Academy's current rotating chairman, had already received the news and notified the executive committee's other seven Jewish members. They were waiting for them.

"This is no small matter, and it didn't happen in private," Arthur Miller said.

Sitting in a high-backed chair, he ignored the coffee in front of him and got straight to the point. "Frank and I weren't the only ones there. Most of the actors, directors, producers, and media representatives attending the Golden Globe Awards were present. This was a public act of discrimination."

"Mel Gibson's words were far worse than Arthur described," Frank Pierson chimed in. "The slurs he used..."

He shook his head and trailed off.

A brief silence fell over the room. Though these men were all of Jewish descent and often clashed under normal circumstances, they set aside their differences now. They might only be a fraction of the executive committee, but they had all spent decades putting down deep roots in Hollywood and building massive networks. No one could ignore the influence these old men wielded.

"If we don't respond to this," said Bruce Cohen, the First Vice President of the Academy and Executive Director of the Producers Alliance, "there will be a next time."

"I agree with Bruce," someone echoed, and the rest nodded.

Levi Roseman looked around, seeing that everyone had reached a consensus. "I'll call a few old friends in the media," he said. "Gentlemen, it's time to do what you do best. I suggest we shut Mel Gibson down through every available channel—actors, directors, producers, and talent agencies."

No one objected. From talent agencies to production companies to distributors, the upper echelons of the industry were filled with people of Jewish descent. As long as they blew this incident up, shutting Mel Gibson out wouldn't be difficult.

Could the incident be swept under the rug? They had already spoken with several old friends in the media before arriving, and that industry was just as heavily populated by people of Jewish descent.

"What about the Oscars?" Arthur Miller asked, reminding them. "Mel Gibson has the momentum right now. Are we just going to sit back and watch him secure a nomination and win Best Director?"

"It's too late for the nominations. Changing the list at this point will only give people ammunition," Levi Roseman said.

The Oscar nominees' luncheon was only three days away, and altering the ballot now carried too much risk. He thought for a moment. "Let him have the nomination. But if he thinks he's going to win..."

He let out a cold scoff. "...he's dreaming."

For many, this was destined to be a sleepless night. The moment Tina Brown arrived at her hotel, she notified the Los Angeles branch of Vanity Fair to expect overtime. She then called New York and, after a brief discussion, decided that Vanity Fair would publish a special supplement the next day.

She handed her phone to her assistant, instructing her to ignore calls from everyone except the conglomerate's president and chairman.

There was no way they were going to let such sensational news slip by. With so many witnesses present, even ten Mel Gibsons and the Century City CAA running interference wouldn't be enough to suppress it.

The night grew deeper. At Duke Manor in Malibu, the Eye-Shaped Villa was brightly lit. Penny Kalis and Nancy Josephson had already hurried over.

"And that's how it happened," Sofia Coppola concluded.

Worried that his own bias might affect his publicist and agent's judgment, Duke had asked Sofia to recount the events of the party as objectively as possible.

"Beautifully done, Duke!" Nancy Josephson said.

Even though the confrontation looked like an accident, she knew her client well enough to be absolutely certain it wasn't. "Mel Gibson is finished. At least for the next four or five years, he's done."

Hearing Nancy's assessment, Sofia Coppola picked up her coffee, took a sip, and shrugged.

This was the most forgetful industry in the world. If he was forcibly blacklisted for four or five years, Mel Gibson would definitely lose his status as an A-list superstar. Once he faded into obscurity, how many studios would still remember him?

"Penny," Duke said, turning to his publicist, the true professional in the room. "What's our best move?"

"Show them your stance," Penny Kalis said after a moment's thought. "Starting tomorrow, you'll inevitably be pushed into the eye of the media storm. You absolutely cannot back down. Call a press conference and respond to Mel Gibson in the strongest possible terms."

"His Oscar is finished," she added. "Duke, your opportunity is here."

The office floors of Century City CAA were just as brightly lit. The moment Martin Bob received the news, he abandoned Eno Martin—who had been relentlessly pestering him during a late-evening meeting—and rushed to the Hilton Grand Hotel to collect Mel Gibson.

After forcing hangover medication down his throat, having someone fetch an ice towel for a cold compress, and making phone calls for nearly half an hour, Martin Bob finally watched Mel Gibson sober up.

"It was a trap, Martin!" Mel Gibson shouted, throwing the towel aside and clutching his badly swollen cheek. "It was absolutely a premeditated setup!"

Martin Bob wasn't surprised. Just as they had wanted to set up their own rival, this fiercely competitive industry was full of traps. It had been that way in the past, it was that way now, and it always would be.

He looked at Mel Gibson. This was his most heavyweight star, the top favorite for Best Director at this year's Oscars. And now?

His gaze gradually turned cold. Martin Bob had already figured out exactly what happened. Even with drunkenness as an excuse, and even if the other party really had provoked him, Mel Gibson was essentially beyond saving. At the very least, Martin knew he couldn't save him.

As his mind cleared, Mel Gibson slowly realized the predicament he was in. A trace of panic suddenly broke through the anger that had dominated his face just moments before.

"Martin, you... you have to help me!"

He looked at his agent with desperate hope. Martin Bob stared back and said slowly, "I just called the editorial departments of Vanity Fair, the Los Angeles Times, and several other media outlets."

"And they..." Like a dog dropped into the middle of the Pacific Ocean, paddling furiously despite knowing there was no hope, Mel Gibson asked, "How did they react?"

Martin Bob shook his head. "David Firth revealed that some people from the Academy have already called the upper management of many media outlets. Half an hour ago, Arthur Miller, Frank Pierson, Levi Roseman, and a few others left the Academy headquarters. Many Jewish members of the executive committee were with them."

"My Best Director..." Mel Gibson muttered.

Hearing Mel Gibson's murmur, Martin Bob lowered his eyes. Best Director was far from the only thing Gibson had lost.

Mel Gibson clutched his face, lost in thought. Meanwhile, Martin Bob kept his head down, calculating how much value the man sitting across from him still had, and whether it was worth his time to intervene.

The pain in his face suddenly reminded Mel Gibson of something. He looked up and said tentatively, "Duke Rosenberg assaulted me. That's battery. I can call the police and sue him!"

"Wake up, Mel!" Martin Bob slammed his fist onto the table with a heavy thud. "Countless people at the scene can testify that you insulted him first, and that you were the first one who tried to get physical! Don't forget, you're accused of a hate crime. He has the right to press charges, and if you're convicted, you'll face criminal liability!"

"Damn Jewish pigs!"

Just as he finished cursing, Mel Gibson suddenly felt something fall loose inside his mouth. He hurriedly spat it into his palm. It was a molar, streaked with blood!

A sliver of light breached the horizon. Copies of newspapers and magazines were shipped from the printing presses to retail outlets and doorsteps. The majority of the papers had scrambled to alter their layouts in the early hours of the morning, reserving their front-page headlines for the famous Mel Gibson.

"Mel Gibson Suspected of Racial Discrimination, Makes Anti-Semitic Remarks at the Golden Globe Awards..."

"After winning Best Director at the Golden Globe Awards last night, Mel Gibson lost control and hurled insults..."

It wasn't just headlines; the articles were accompanied by interview transcripts from numerous people at the scene. It was clear the media had responded as quickly as possible upon receiving the news the night before. Hearing such statements straight from the mouths of A-list celebrities thoroughly cemented the accusations of racial discrimination against Mel Gibson.

One newspaper quoted Tom Cruise verbatim: "I heard it very clearly. Mel Gibson used racially discriminatory language to publicly attack and provoke Duke. It was a completely shameful act!"

At the same time, a considerable number of reporters gathered in the press hall at Warner Studios. Penny Kalis, acting as Duke's spokesperson, issued a sternly worded statement. Not only did she condemn Mel Gibson's behavior, but she also announced they reserved the right to pursue legal action against him for the hate speech.

There was no question about it; the mainstream media was firmly siding with Duke. The outlets under Warner, Fox, and Disney in particular were condemning Mel Gibson with the strongest possible voices, while simultaneously attacking the film he directed, Braveheart. They all saw a chance for Saving Private Ryan to secure a sweeping victory at the Oscars.

Over the next two days, many prominent people of Jewish descent in Hollywood stepped forward—whether actively or passively—to express their views on the matter. Even though Mel Gibson issued a public apology on the afternoon of the second day and blamed his behavior on alcohol, the Jewish influence in Hollywood had no intention of letting him off the hook.

Bruce Cohen, the Executive Director of the Producers Alliance, even publicly called on all producers in Hollywood to stop working with Mel Gibson!

Even Paramount Pictures, his own collaborative partner, stood up against Mel Gibson, represented by an ultra-heavyweight figure.

Sumner Redstone of Viacom was a prominent Jewish figure. In an interview with CBS Television, he declared that Mel Gibson had made enough money from the pockets of Jewish people in Hollywood, only to reveal his true, Jew-hating nature after a few drinks, which was simply going too far. He added that if Gibson had a problem with Jewish people, he shouldn't be working in Hollywood!

His words were arguably the best reflection of Mel Gibson's future predicament.

Amidst all this uproar, the 68th Oscar nominees' luncheon was held right on schedule, and the nomination list was announced.