Mel Gibson’s rehabilitation of his battered reputation hit a major setback this week after video showed him apparently mocking a sign-language interpreter.

The US-born, Australian-raised actor was forced to issue an apology amid a backlash to the footage of him ridiculing the translator at FanExpo Canada, where Gibson attended a retrospective Q&A.

Video of the incident that was widely circulated on social media platforms like X showed Gibson take the stage behind the translator and make furious hand movements in a mocking manner.

“This choice is bonkers to me,” an X user posted in response to the video. “*interpreter just doing their job, people clapping for you, positive vibes* Mel Gibson: *makes fun of ASL interpreter for no reason at all.”

In statement issued Tuesday Australian time, the 70-year-old Oscar winner maintained there was no malice in his actions.

“Sometimes when you get pushed out on a stage in a spotlight, your mind is all over the place, and sometimes spontaneous thoughtless idiocy is displayed,” Gibson said.

“There was no intended maliciousness attached, and I certainly apologise to anyone who was upset by it.”

Gibson has been rebuilding his career and reputation since a dramatic fall from grace in the 2000s, including his infamous arrest in 2006 during which he made disparaging remarks about Jewish people.

Gibson says there was no malice to his actions. Photo: YouTube

The actor and director recently wrapped production on his sequel to 2004’s Passion of the Christ, The Resurrection of the Christ.

He has also announced plans for a limited series detailing the Siege of Malta in the 16th century.

US President Donald Trump last year named Gibson as a “Special Ambassador” to a “great but very troubled place, Hollywood, California”.

Trump also named Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone as his envoys as he vowed to make Hollywood “bigger, better and stronger”.

Gibson went on an antisemitic rant while being arrested for allegedly driving under the influence in 2006, severely denting his career.

In 2010, Russian songwriter and pianist Oksana Grigorieva – Gibson’s partner after he divorced his first wife – accused him of domestic violence, leading to an investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Audio recordings of a rant, allegedly directed by Gibson toward Grigorieva, were posted on the internet.

Despite the public and professional blowback, Gibson continued to work in mainstream movies and won his second Oscar for Hacksaw Ridge in 2017.

He won his first Academy Award for directing Braveheart in 1995.

Born in Peekskill, New York in 1956, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney when he was 12 years old.

A product of the National Institute if the Dramatic Art, he earned fame for his appearance in several iconic Australian films including Gallipoli and the first three Max Max movies.