His reputation took another hit a few years later when he made graphic and racist threats of domestic violence to his then-spouse. The actress Winona Ryder, who is Jewish, has also accused him of calling her an “oven dodger,” an allusion to the Holocaust.

The actor’s catalogue of concerning remarks includes a highly-publicised drunken rant in 2006, for which he later apologised

"I got the tweet at the same time as all of you and was just as surprised. Nevertheless, I heed the call,” said Gibson in a statement.