Entertainment

Mel Gibson: My home of over a decade burned down during Joe Rogan podcast

The Mad Max star described the loss as ’emotional’ and ‘devastating’.

Mel Gibson was recording Joe Rogan’s podcast while his home burned in the wildfires
Mel Gibson was recording Joe Rogan’s podcast while his home burned in the wildfires (Isabel Infantes/PA)
By Ellie Iorizzo, PA Los Angeles Correspondent

Oscar-winning actor and director Mel Gibson has revealed his home was lost in the Los Angeles wildfires while he was away recording a podcast interview with Joe Rogan.

The Mad Max star, 69, described the loss as “emotional” and “devastating”, but attempted to remain upbeat as he said his family were “happy and healthy and out of harm’s way”.

Appearing on NewsNation’s Elizabeth Vargas Reports, Gibson said he returned from Austin, Texas, after recording The Joe Rogan Experience to find his Malibu home was “completely toasted”.

Mel Gibson and Rosalind Ross arriving at the 89th Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles
Mel Gibson and Rosalind Ross arriving at the 89th Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles (Ian West/PA)

“I was doing the Rogan podcast, I was kind of ill at ease while we were talking because I knew my neighbourhood was on fire, so I thought ‘I wonder if my place is still there’, but when I got home, sure enough, it wasn’t there,” he said.

“I’ve never seen such a complete burn, it is obviously devastating, it’s emotional.

“You live there for a long time, and you had all your stuff. I lived there for about 14, 15 years so it was home to me.

“I had a lot of personal things there that I can’t get back – everything from photographs to files to just personal things that I had from over the years.

“That can all be replaced. These are only things. And the good news is that those in my family and those I love are all well, and we’re all happy and healthy and out of harm’s way.”

During the podcast interview, Gibson expressed frustration at the city’s response to the wildfires which has seen criticism aimed at governor of California Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass.

Gibson said Mr Newsom “didn’t do anything” to help address underlying environmental issues which have remained a problem in southern California for many years.

“I think Newsom said ‘I’m going to take care of the forest and maintain the forest and do all that kind of stuff’ — he didn’t do anything,” the Braveheart star told Rogan.

“I think all our tax dollars probably went for Gavin’s hair gel,” Gibson joked.

“It’s sad, the place is just on fire.”

Gibson won the Oscar for best director and best picture in 1996 for Braveheart, the action film where he starred as Scottish rebel, William Wallace, who sets out to battle King Edward I of England.