Actor and director Mel Gibson lost his Malibu home to the ongoing wildfires in Southern California while recording an episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience” in Austin, Texas, he told NewsNation on Thursday.
“Obviously, it’s kind of devastating. It’s emotional,” he told the outlet. “You live there for a long time and you had all your stuff — you remember George Carlin talking about ‘your stuff’?”
Gibson, who was referencing a well-known routine by the legendary comedian, said the flames took some “pretty cool stuff” from him, like photos, files and clothing. Still, he laughed while discussing the loss of his possessions.
“I’ve been relieved from the burden of my stuff because it’s all in cinders,” said the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind 1995′s “Braveheart.”
Gibson had sat down with podcaster Joe Rogan this week to discuss his Catholic faith and an upcoming movie called “Flight Risk.”
“I was kind of ill at ease while we were talking because I knew my neighborhood was on fire,” Gibson said. “So I thought, ‘I wonder if my place is still there.’ But when I got home, sure enough, it wasn’t there.”
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic/Getty Images
He told NewsNation that his property “looked like Dresden” after Allied bombing of the German city in World War II, joking that “at least I haven’t got any of those pesky plumbing problems anymore.”
Gibson — who previously fell from grace over reports of antisemitic remarks and other controversies, but has since received the support of fellow actors such as Andrew Garfield and Robert Downey Jr. — is one of multiple celebrities who have lost their homes and possessions to the California wildfires.
Echoing remarks made by “This Is Us” star Milo Ventimiglia on Thursday, Gibson told NewsNation he hasn’t lost what truly matters.
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“These are only things,” said Gibson. “The good news is that, you know, those in my family and those I love are all well, and we’re all happy and healthy and out of harm’s way. And that’s all I can care about, really.”
English (US) ·