Actor Mel Gibson has joined the effort to recall California Governor Gavin Newsom from his position, a movement that gained traction following devastating wildfires in and around Los Angeles that resulted in the loss of 29 lives and the destruction of thousands of homes and businesses. The recall campaign was launched in response to the wildfires that have ravaged California since January, causing unprecedented damage across the state.
California has experienced catastrophic wildfires, burning over 47,900 acres, and destroying more than 16,250 homes and businesses. In light of these disasters, a recall effort was initiated against Newsom, which aims to collect between 1.2 and 1.3 million signatures over a span of 160 days to secure a place on the upcoming ballot for Californians to voice their opinions.
Gibson’s involvement could significantly bolster the campaign. In a video shared on X, formerly Twitter, by the group Saving California, which is spearheading the recall initiative, Gibson is depicted signing the recall petition. The organization expressed their excitement, stating, “Saving California Board of Directors caught up with Mel Gibson, and he’s ALL IN to recall @GavinNewsom!” This enthusiastic endorsement comes just weeks after Gibson’s own property—a $14.5 million mansion in Malibu—was destroyed by the wildfires, intensifying his criticism of Newsom’s leadership.
During an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, recorded in Texas, Gibson openly critiqued Newsom for his handling of California’s forests, accusing him of neglect and jokingly suggesting that the governor was misappropriating taxpayer money for personal grooming products. “In 2019, I think Newsom said, ‘You know, I’m going to take care of the forest and maintain the forest, all of that kind of stuff,'” Gibson remarked. “He didn’t do anything (…). It’s sad. It’s like, the place is just on fire,” he continued, demonstrating his frustration with the governor’s actions.
Rogan, who also backed former President Donald Trump in the previous election, echoed Gibson’s sentiments by stating that Newsom had “ruined the state personally” and referred to the governor’s claims about California’s excellence as “insane.” Gibson agreed with Rogan’s assessment that Newsom is to blame for the devastating state of San Francisco, which has been grappling with an escalating homelessness crisis that has led some to describe the area as “apocalyptic” and “a mess.” Furthermore, Gibson ominously suggested that civilization itself might be on the brink of collapse if the situation continues to degrade.
The wildfires have not only affected Gibson but also other celebrities, including Paris Hilton, Leighton Meester, Adam Brody, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Heidi Montag, Spencer Pratt, and Billy Crystal, all of whom have lost their homes to the flames. As of now, Gibson stands out as the sole celebrity publicly backing the recall effort against Newsom, marking a significant moment in California’s political landscape as citizens confront the fallout from these tragedies.
The scrutiny surrounding Newsom has intensified in light of his response to the wildfires. Recently, Trump claimed that Newsom stalled the allocation of water resources to Southern California, citing concerns for a threatened fish species, which allegedly hampered firefighting efforts. “Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California,” Trump expressed on Truth Social, angering many who felt that effective measures were necessary.
In response, Newsom’s office dismissed Trump’s claims, asserting that the alleged “water restoration declaration” was a fabrication. While Newsom contends that the declaration does not exist, there have been ongoing tensions between him and Trump regarding water policy, particularly Trump’s 2019 regulations that aimed to increase water flow from Northern California to Central Valley, bypassing certain environmental protections.
Currently, the number of signatures collected for the recall remains unclear. However, if organizers fail to achieve the target of 1.2 to 1.3 million signatures, hopes for the recall will be dashed. Randy Economy, chairman of Saving California and a former advisor to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., expressed confidence in meeting the signature goal, stating, “If we don’t get this done in a couple of weeks, I’ll be shocked. The anger is driving this, and we’ve been bombarded 24 hours a day for the past two weeks with people asking, ‘Where do I sign? How do I get my petition?'”
He emphasized that the overwhelming discontent from citizens, particularly those who lost their homes in the fires, could lead to an unprecedented mobilization against Newsom. “These were his traditional base of voters, and they’re all disgusted with him. The anger is something I’ve never seen in California politics,” Economy noted, highlighting the turbulent emotions driving the recall movement.
Newsom’s previous recall attempts have not succeeded, with the most notable attempt in 2021 resulting in a vote where 7.9 million Californians voted against recalling him compared to 4.9 million in favor. Now, as the state recovers from wildfire devastation, the coalition rallying around Mel Gibson’s support for the recall of Gavin Newsom showcases how celebrity endorsement can reverberate through political landscapes, reminding us of the fragile balance between leadership accountability and public sentiment in the wake of crisis.
