Joe Eszterhas, known for his work on "Basic Instinct", wrote a nine-page letter claiming the actor said the holocaust was "mostly a lot of horse----" and that he was "happy" John Lennon was shot. His letter was published in full on The Wrap, a film industry website. "I've come to the conclusion that the reason you won't make The Maccabees is the ugliest possible one. You hate Jews," Eszterhas wrote.
The letter came after studio Warner Bros shelved Eszterhas' film "The Maccabees", a historical drama about 2nd-century Jewish warrior Judah Maccabee, which Gibson was to direct.
Eszterhas wrote: "You continually called Jews 'Hebes' and 'oven-dodgers' and 'Jewboys.' It seemed that most times when we discussed someone, you asked 'He's a Hebe, isn't he?'"
The Jewish community had voiced disapproval over Gibson's involvement with the film. In 2006 the actor and filmmaker was arrested for drink driving and an anti-Semitic outburst. He was also criticised for the negative portrayal of Jewish people in his 2004 film "Passion of the Christ". Read on and comment » | Lauren Gambino | Thursday, April 12, 2012
