The Surprising and Not So Surprising

Not surprising: Mel Gibson has declined an invitation to apologize to some Jews.

The rabbi who invited Mel Gibson to speak at his temple said that Gibson has officially declined the invitation to appear before the Jewish congregation, reported the showbiz website TMZ  .

Rabbi David Baron told TMZ that he was recently contacted by Gibson’s publicist, who claimed the actor remains “deeply involved in personal work which includes rehab, therapy and counseling for alcoholism.”

Baron asked Mel Gibson to his temple on Yom Kippur following the star’s drunken anti-Semitism slur. In the letter, Baron made it clear that he “did not invite Mel Gibson to speak; I invited him to deliver a public apology.”

Popstar Pink said that Gibson needs help: “I’m a fan of his work. I think anybody with opinions like that needs well-wishing. And I’m Jewish. Alcohol makes you do crazy thing.”