“Scandal” star Joshua Malina is questioning the existence of cancel culture after Mel Gibson was reportedly tapped to star and direct the upcoming film “Lethal Weapon 5.”

The 55-year-old “West Wing” alum wrote an op-ed for The Atlantic in which he criticized the fact that Gibson continues to land roles in Hollywood despite his past anti-Semitic remarks, domestic abuse reports, racist comments, and other controversial actions.

“Gibson is a well-known Jew-hater (anti-Semite is too mild). His prejudices are well documented. So my question is, what does a guy have to do these days to get put on Hollywood’s no-fly list?” Malina wrote.

“I’m a character actor. I tend to take the jobs that come my way. But—and this hurts to write—you couldn’t pay me enough to work with Mel Gibson.”

While Malina noted that Gibson is “a talented man,” he believes it’s a mistake to ignore his controversial history just because of his box office appeal.

“If Gibson is welcomed back to direct the latest installment of this beloved franchise, it may be time to stop publishing think pieces about the power of ‘cancel culture,’” he explained.

“Because if he can continue to find big bucks and approbation in Hollywood, cancel culture simply does not exist.”

Malina went on to recall Gibson’s 2006 arrest in which he was charged with drunk driving. At the time, he said anti-Semitic remarks to the arresting officer, who was Jewish.

Malina also touched on Gibson’s domestic abuse charge against his ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, as well as a threatening voicemail he left her, which included a racist remark about Black people.

Malina concluded by acknowledging that his essay about Gibson could lead to people boycotting his career but believed it was worth the risk.

“It would be great if higher-profile executives, producers, and actors would also take a stand. Then I could believe in this cancel culture I keep reading so much about. And I could also believe that Jews do, in fact, count,” he wrote.

Mel Gibson
Director Mel Gibson walked the red carpet at the 17th Annual AFI Awards in Los Angeles. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
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