{"id":182559,"date":"2023-01-10T12:14:04","date_gmt":"2023-01-10T12:14:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/endymion-promises-to-do-better-after-mel-gibson-controversy-mardi-grass\/"},"modified":"2023-01-10T12:14:04","modified_gmt":"2023-01-10T12:14:04","slug":"endymion-promises-to-do-better-after-mel-gibson-controversy-mardi-grass","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/endymion-promises-to-do-better-after-mel-gibson-controversy-mardi-grass\/","title":{"rendered":"Endymion promises to do better after Mel Gibson controversy | Mardi Grass"},"content":{"rendered":"
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After a hailstorm of criticism this weekend, the Krewe of Endymion reversed its decision to invite controversial actor\/director Mel Gibson to serve as co-grand marshal of this year’s parade. Gibson’s history of antisemitic comments, racial slurs and other scandals made the krewe the focus of widespread outrage.<\/p>\n

On Monday, president Dan Kelly promised to revise the Carnival club’s selection process for celebrity grand marshals, and to \u201cdo better in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEndymion’s process for selection… while internal, will be reviewed going forward, so as to create a more thorough discussion of potential candidates,\u201d Kelly wrote in an email.<\/p>\n

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The 37 floats and 3,000 riders of the super krewe Endymion roll down Orleans Avenue and on to Carrollton Avenue with the theme “Jazz: Our Gift to the World” on Saturday, February 10, 2018. (Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)<\/p>\n

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When Endymion announced Saturday that the 67-year-old action star and Academy award-winning director would preside over the parade, he might have seemed like the ideal choice. After all, other leading men such as Kevin Costner and Steven Seagal had served as grand marshals in past years.<\/p>\n

But the public couldn’t ignore Gibson’s darker side. The 2004 movie “The Passion of the Christ,” which Gibson directed, was directed by some for being antisemitic propaganda. And an incident in 2006 seemed to bolster that view. As Gibson was being detained for speeding and driving while intoxicated, he infamously directed an anti-Jewish tirade at the arresting officer.<\/p>\n

Though he apologized for the incident, further scandal followed.<\/p>\n

In 2010, reports circulated that Gibson had been caught on tape excoriating his former girlfriend and the mother of his child with sexist remarks and racist slurs, including the N-word. <\/p>\n

Those were incidents many locals did not forget.<\/p>\n

On Sunday afternoon, less than 24 hours after announcing Gibson’s anointment, the krewe reversed its decision, citing undefined threats that could impact \u201cthe safety of our riders, special guests and everyone that welcomes us on the streets.\u201d<\/p>\n

But as the city buzzed with reaction, questions remained unanswered.<\/p>\n

Asked by email Sunday night how the decision to invite Gibson came about, and if the krewe anticipated any backlash, Kelly wrote:<\/p>\n

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Dan Kelly, president of the Krewe of Endymion and owner of Beads By The Dozen. <\/p>\n

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\u201cOur inclusion of Mr. Gibson was meant to be in recognition of his acting career and was in no way meant to give credence to his statements otherwise. We regret this incident and will do better in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Several sources also confirmed that 82-year-old Endymion founder Ed Muniz, a radio station owner and longtime Jefferson Parish politician, remains captain of the krewe but due to declining health, is no longer a decision maker and had no role in Gibson’s invitation.<\/p>\n

In a subsequent email asking what the nature of the \u201cthreats\u201d had been, Kelly offered no further information.<\/p>\n

\u201cEndymion regards the safety of parade watchers and our members first and foremost,\u201d he wrote. \u201cGiven the reaction from elements of the public, we have taken the proactive step of engaging with proper officials concerning these issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

It’s unclear who those officials may have been.<\/p>\n

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Grand marshal Raymond Arroyo tosses cups as the Krewe of Endymion rolls to ‘Legends of Fire and Ice,’ during its 55th annual parade in New Orleans Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. Helen Trask Alford reigned as queen and Maurice Barre as king over the all-male, 3,200-rider Endymion procession. (Staff photo by Scott Threlkeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)<\/p>\n

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Last year, the krewe broke with tradition and invited native New Orleanian Raymond Arroyo, the lead anchor of the conservative Catholic-themed Eternal Word Television Network and a frequent Fox News contributor, to serve as Grand Marshal. Arroyo would not seem to fit the pop celebrity mold of most Endymion grand marshals.<\/p>\n

Gibson, the star of the \u201cMad Max\u201d and \u201cLethal Weapon\u201d movie series, is also is known for his conservative religious beliefs. The actor and director was raised a Sedevacantist traditionalist Catholic, a conservative sect that rejects the authority of modern popes. In Malibu, California, Gibson reportedly built a traditionalist Catholic church called the Church of the Holy Family, where the mass is entirely celebrated in Latin.<\/p>\n

\u201cEndymion is proud of our extraordinary and diverse membership,\u201d Kelly wrote on Sunday, adding that the krewe is \u201cabout the celebration of all that is Mardi Gras and our city, without participating in religious or political divisions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maybe recently, but not always. In 1991, during the First Gulf War, Endymion’s invitation to actor Woody Harrelson of \u201cCheers\u201d fame was withdrawn after Harrelson was spotted applauding at a peace rally, according to news reports. Harrelson was replaced as grand marshal by then Police Chief Warren Woodfork.<\/p>\n

With roughly 3,200 riders on 80 floats separated by bands and marching groups, Endymion is among New Orleans largest and most spectacular parades.<\/p>\n

It was founded in 1967 in the Gentilly neighborhood near the Fairgrounds racetrack and named for a horse that had been named for a handsome sleeping shepherd in Greek mythology. From just 16 floats in the beginning, Endymion has mushroomed into a mammoth parade and superkrewe.<\/p>\n

The first celebrity grand marshal was trumpeter and TV bandleader Doc Severinsen. Among the most famous early celebrity riders was horror rocker Alice Cooper, who rode in 1976, the year the parade moved to Mid-City. It is the only remaining Mid-City parade.<\/p>\n

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New Orleans will hire police from outside the NOPD to safeguard Mardi Gras, allowing Endymion and perhaps other parades to roll on their full,\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n

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Mardi Gras 2023 is Feb. 21, and Carnival starts up a few weeks earlier, on Jan. 6 as always. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n

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Carnival doesn’t stop at the parish line. Here are all the parades that roll in New Orleans’ neighboring suburbs. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div><\/div>\n