Jodie Foster has made her first public statement about her friend Mel Gibson in light of the recent scandal involving his alleged abuse of his ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva.

She told More Magazine (haven’t seen the full interview yet):

he is easiest, nicest person I’ve ever worked with — AND — I will love this man for the rest of my life — AND — When you love a friend, you don’t abandon them when they are struggling — AND — I hope I can help him get through this dark moment.

Is this easy, nice person the same guy that was so full of rage on the tapes?

Jodie’s got a big issue. She’s got a movie that she doesn’t want to see wither on the shelves The Beaver, that stars Gibson. Sadly, her directing career of late is pretty much dead in the water. Once upon a time it had so much promise, but now…not so much. But, she’s got a movie in the can that was a labor of love, and according to a Pete Hammond story on Deadline, Mel gives a great performance.

The question being pondered now is not whether to release it at all which was the question right after the scandal hit, but whether to release it this year to see if Mel can get himself an Oscar nomination.

So now the rehabilitation of Mel Gibson begins and it is led by a woman who once upon a time was my film feminist hero. Remember The Accused? Remember Silence of the Lambs?

Sigh.

Jodie Foster: I won’t “abandon” Mel Gibson (Reuters)

Could Mel Gibson Become A Late Player In This Year’s Best Actor Oscar Race? (Deadline)