Mel Gibson's interview came to an abrupt end yesterday when he was asked to comment on Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars.
The Braveheart star, 66, was asked by Fox News host Jesse Watters how he would feel were he in Smith's position - but never got a chance to answer, thanks to his handler stepping in.
Referring to the now-infamous moment Smith stormed on stage and hit Rock at the Academy Awards last weekend, Watters said: "You understand it probably better than a lot of people, with your career."
"And I was wondering if, you know, 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?" he added.
Instead of answering the question, Gibson - who has been no stranger to controversy during his decades-long career - can be seen laughing and shaking his head, then waving his hand.
A female voice then abruptly cuts in from off-camera, saying: "Hello, Jesse? Um, thank you, that's our time."
As Gibson smiles awkwardly and looks off to the side (presumably at his handler), Watters tries again to get an answer, saying: "Have you ever thought about that?"
But the actor's handler clearly doesn't think it's a good idea for him to respond. "Um, I'm - thank you, Jesse. Uh, we - that is our time," she says again.
Watters has no point but to end the interview there. "Well, Mel, thank you very much for joining Jesse Watters Primetime. We really appreciate it," he says, wrapping up their interview.
The interview aired around an hour after Smith resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He has agreed to accept any consequences they see fit to impose on him as punishment for his outburst, which happened after comedian Chris Rock poked fun at his wife Jada Pinkett Smith during the Academy Awards ceremony.
Smith has since apologized to Rock in an Instagram post, in which he said: "Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally."
He continued: "I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.
"I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us."
Smith concluded his post: "I am a work in progress."
