Before cementing his name as one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood, Robert Downey Jr. used to suffer from substance abuse, which initially led to his downfall before his glorious comeback. And the person who helped the actor in making his grand comeback in the industry was Mel Gibson.
Since his comeback, The Iron Man star has been pretty vocal about the Braveheart actor’s contribution to his life and how he helped him through the roughest period of his career. And when Gibson found himself surrounded by controversies, RDJ was the one to stand by his side.
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Robert Downey Jr.Robert Downey Jr. shared his gratitude for Mel Gibson
In an award ceremony, Robert Downey Jr took the moment to share his gratitude for Mel Gibson, who kept the actor afloat during the toughest period of his life. The Iron Man actor shared that when he was on the verge of relapse, Gibson was the one to give him the motivation to stay sober. The Braveheart actor also provided RDJ with his movie The Singing Detective after the industry blacklisted the Iron Man star. RDJ stated,
“When I couldn’t get sober, he told me not to give up hope and encouraged me to find my faith. He kept a roof over my head and food on the table and most importantly he said if I accepted responsibility for my wrongdoing and embraced that part of my soul that was ugly, hugging the cactus he calls it. He said that if I hugged the cactus long enough, I’d become a man.”
But after helping Downey Jr. in his recovery, soon Gibson too found himself surrounded by a heap of controversies, which took a toll on his career. And during his rock bottom, RDJ didn’t shy away from standing beside his friend.
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Robert Downey Jr. and Mel GibsonRobert Downey Jr. asked for forgiveness for Mel Gibson
During the 2010s, Mel Gibson found himself in a heap of controversies for his domestic violence scandal and his anti-semitic viewpoints, which ultimately resulted in the actor’s fall from grace. But in an award ceremony, Robert Downey Jr. didn’t back away from helping Gibson in his lowest.
In a wholesome manner, the Iron Man star asked forgiveness for Mel Gibson, and in a heartfelt speech, the actor asked the audience to provide Gibson another chance. He said,
“So anyway on this special occasion and in light of the recent holidays including Columbus Day, I would ask that you join me unless you are complete without sin, in which case you picked the wrong f—ing industry, in forgiving my friend his trespasses and offering him the same clean slate you have me”
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Robert Downey Jr. and Mel Gibson
At the present, Robert Downey Jr. is now regarded amongst the greatest actors of our time and is famous for his enchanting personality. And it’s understandable why the Iron Man star considers Mel Gibson the reason behind his success and has never shied away from supporting his friend.
Source: The Telegraph
