Mel Gibson Interview Cut Short over Question About Will Smith Oscars Slap

Mel Gibson shied away from answering a question regarding the Oscars incident between Will Smith and Chris Rock, leading to an awkward ending to a television interview.

Appearing on Fox News about Gibson's new film "Father Stu", anchor Jesse Watters asked the actor, director and producer his thoughts on the slap that Will Smith gave comedian Chris Rock during the Academy Awards' ceremony.

"You understand it probably better than a lot of people, with your career," said Watters, "I was wondering if [...] you had been the one that jumped up out of his seat and slapped Chris Rock, if you would have been treated the same way, Mel?"

It prompted Gibson to point his finger into the camera and shake his palm, apparently showing his unwillingness to answer. A female voice off camera, reportedly his public relations helper, said, "Hello, Jessie? Thank you. That's our time."

Watters persisted, asking, "Have you ever thought about that?" As he saw that Gibson was not going to respond, Watters thanked his guest and plugged his movie based on the true story of Stuart Long, a boxer who became a Catholic priest.

Sony Pictures, which released "Father Stu" has been contacted by Newsweek for comment.

The moment came five minutes into a relatively flattering interview in which Watters praised Gibson.

He asked about its themes such as how to deal with suffering, the subjugation of ego, and what Gibson said was the abandonment of self required to embrace a belief in God.

After the abrupt end of the interview, Watters read out a viewer's comment of whether Gibson "had any idea who you are?" "If I was a betting man, I'd say no," Watters replied.

Watters' question appeared to point to some of the controversies that the Lethal Weapon star has faced during his career.

He had an enforced Hollywood hiatus following an infamous DUI arrest in Malubu 2006 during which he unleashed an anti-Semitic rant, which he later apologized for. He has been accused of making other anti-Semitic comments. Leaked tapes in 2010 apparently revealed Gibson screaming racist remarks at his then-girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva.

Meanwhile, there has been considerable fallout from the Oscars' incident which was sparked by Rock's comment about the short haircut of Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who has publicly spoken about her alopecia.

On Friday, Will Smith officially resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and it remains up in the air whether he can keep the best actor Oscar he won for "King Richard."

However, Gibson Eugene Scott, a political reporter at The Washington Post, tweeted that Gibson was among a number of other stars who have kept their Oscars following scandals.