Los Angeles: Winona Ryder says that she was a victim of Mel Gibson`s alleged anti-semitism years before it made global headlines.
The actress who is making her big screen comeback with the Academy Award nominated film `Black Swan` after almost a decade-long hiatus, said that Gibson made a crude joke about her Jewish roots at a party 15 years ago, in an interview to GQ magazine.
"I remember, like, fifteen years ago, I was at one of those big Hollywood parties. And Mel was really drunk. I was with my friend, who`s gay. He made a really horrible gay joke. And somehow it came up that I was Jewish. He said something about `oven dodgers`," recalled the actress.
The derogatory term refers to the cremation of Jews in concentration camps during the Holocaust.
"I`d never heard that before. It was just this weird, weird moment. I was like, `He`s anti-Semitic and he`s homophobic`. No one believed me," she added.
Gibson has been at the centre of multiple racist diatribes since then and is now facing charges of domestic violence from ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva.
Ryder who was arrested in 2001 for shoplifting, plays a aging prima ballerina in `Black Swan` who is replaced by the younger star, played by Natalie Portman.
PTI
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.