Mel Gibson committed to reviving industry under Trump's administration as celebrities flee Hollywood
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: With high-profile stars leaving California due to rising taxes, crime, and regulatory burdens, Mel Gibson aims to work towards making Hollywood a more sustainable environment for creativity and business.
Appointed by President Donald Trump as a Special Envoy to Hollywood, Gibson promises to tackle the industry’s growing challenges.
Mel Gibson says he understands the exodus
During a recent appearance on Fox News’ 'Hannity', Mel Gibson acknowledged the reasons behind the growing number of celebrities and production companies leaving California.
“A lot of people have left, and I don’t blame them,” Gibson said.
“It didn’t suit them anymore. Even people who were liberal… But if everybody leaves, what’s going to happen?” he added.
Fox News host Sean Hannity, who also relocated from New York for similar reasons, echoed Gibson’s concerns.
Both highlighted the high cost of living, crime, and restrictive regulations as key factors driving people away.
Mel Gibson is tasked with revitalizing a troubled Hollywood
President Donald Trump announced last week that Mel Gibson, along with fellow actors Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone, would serve as Special Ambassadors to Hollywood.
Their mission is to address the industry’s troubles and promote business, focusing on reversing the exodus of talent and production.
Gibson highlighted the prohibitive costs of filming in Los Angeles, sharing a personal example where it was cheaper to shoot a film in Europe than in California.
“I had to film for one day in Los Angeles, and it was cheaper to fly my entire crew to Europe, lodge them, and shoot for three days than to work locally,” Gibson explained.
“There’s something wrong there, and I think there are solution," he added.
Mel Gibson focuses on tax incentives and policy changes
One of Mel Gibson’s primary goals as a Special Envoy is to advocate for better tax incentives to attract productions back to Hollywood.
He criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom’s current policies, stating they fail to address the core issues.
“I know Newsom gave some tax incentives, but maybe not enough because it’s still not working,” Gibson told Hannity.
“Other states and countries are outpacing us because they’re more cost-effective,” he added.
He also pointed to previous efforts by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to level the playing field, which faced significant obstacles.
Mel Gibson addresses California’s broader challenges
Mel Gibson’s criticisms of California extend beyond Hollywood’s woes.
He called out state leadership for mismanagement of resources and crises, particularly in handling wildfires.
Having lost his own $14.5 million Malibu mansion in the recent Los Angeles fires, Gibson expressed frustration over what he called “monumental mismanagement” by elected officials.
“You’ve got rampant crime, acute homelessness, high taxes, mismanagement of water and firefighters, and defunded departments. And we’re supposed to trust them with millions of dollars to remake our city?” Gibson said during an interview with Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo.
Mel Gibson's optimism for change under Donald Trump’s leadership
Despite the obstacles, Gibson remains optimistic about the future of Hollywood and California.
He believes President Trump’s administration can deliver results, vowing to work closely with Voight and Stallone to identify solutions and develop a plan of action.
“I think we can get some results here quickly,” Gibson stated.
