United Kingdom, Aug. 31 -- Mel Gibson has apologised for his "thoughtless idiocy" after appearing to mock a deaf American Sign Language interpreter.

The 70-year-old actor has been heavily criticised on social media after a video went viral showing him making exaggerated hand gestures as he walked on stage at Fan Expo Canada in Toronto over the weekend.

Addressing the backlash, he said in a statement: "Sometimes when you get pushed out on a stage in a spotlight your mind is all over the place, and sometimes spontaneous thoughtless idiocy is displayed.

"There was no intended maliciousness attached, and I certainly apologise to anyone who was upset by it."

In the video shared online, the Braveheart star was introduced on stage by moderat...