In a surprising turn of events, President Donald Trump has appointed actor Mel Gibson as one of his Special Ambassadors, tasked with the mission of invigorating the Hollywood business scene.
Gibson, who has chosen to remain in California amidst a mass exodus of celebrities, shared his perspective on the situation during an appearance on "Hannity."
"A lot of people have left, and I don't blame them," Gibson stated, acknowledging the growing discontent among his peers. "It didn't suit them anymore. Even people who were liberal, it didn't suit them anymore. But if everybody leaves, what's going to happen?"
According to Fox News, Gibson's remarks were made in response to host Sean Hannity's revelation that he had left New York due to "crime high taxes burdensome regulations," and had "no intention" of returning. Gibson concurred that these were the same reasons prompting many A-list celebrities to abandon California.
Despite aligning with Hannity's sentiments, Gibson pledged to collaborate with President Trump in addressing the issues plaguing what the president referred to as a "very troubled" Hollywood. "[People] are going somewhere else because it's more cost-effective. There [are] just a lot of prohibitive regulations and things in the way that I think could be lifted But I think it can be fixed," Gibson asserted.
In a recent announcement, President Trump revealed that Gibson, along with Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone, would serve as "special envoys" to Hollywood. This news has sparked curiosity about their roles, especially as the industry grapples with a tumultuous state of affairs.
Gibson, committed to his new role, promised to convene with his fellow ambassadors to formulate a plan and further "educate" himself on the escalating issues.
As Trump resumes his presidential duties, Gibson expressed confidence that the president would "get some results here quickly." He was particularly critical of California Governor Gavin Newsom, whose plans, according to Gibson, are not "working."
"I know Newsom gave some tax incentives, but maybe not enough because it's still not working. There are other things that offset that," Gibson told Hannity.
Gibson further illustrated the economic challenges faced by the film industry, recounting how it was more cost-effective for him to fly a film crew to Europe for three days of shooting than to film locally in Los Angeles. "There's something wrong there, and I think there are solutions," he said.
Gibson also joined the chorus of high-profile residents criticizing the handling of the Los Angeles fires by elected officials. In an exclusive interview with Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo, Gibson, who lost his home in the fires, lambasted Governor Newsom.
"Well, first I thought it was, 'Oh gee, bad luck, tragedy.' But then I came to realize that it was monumental mismanagement by our elected officials; and thats the nicest thing you can say about it," Gibson said.
Despite Governor Newsom's call for significant changes in wildfire combat and prevention, Gibson expressed skepticism about the governor's plan. He criticized the state's handling of crime, homelessness, high taxes, water management, and the defunding of the fire department, questioning the government's ability to effectively manage the rebuilding process.
The devastating fires that engulfed the Los Angeles area on January 7 forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate as homes and businesses were reduced to ashes. Amidst this chaos and uncertainty, Gibson's appointment and his commitment to address the issues plaguing Hollywood and California at large offer a glimmer of hope. However, only time will tell if these efforts will yield the desired results and restore the state's former glory.
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