Actor Mel Gibson has joined efforts to recall California Gov. Gavin Newsom following the LA wildfires, which destroyed his Malibu home, Fox LA reported.

At a Wednesday press conference, Gibson praised firefighters and criticized officials for their handling of the crisis. “The firefighters, I have to say they were practically in tears. You know why? Because they thought they had let us down. I want to say loudly right here: You did not let us down,” he said.

Gibson argued the fires were just one reason Newsom should be recalled.

“He has brought us nothing but rampant crime, acute homelessness, horrendous inflation. I mean the industry I work in, the film industry, this used to be the Mecca of filmdom. It is no more,” he said.

Eighth Attempt to Recall Newsom

Newsom’s office dismissed the recall effort as politically motivated, noting similar attempts have repeatedly failed. “Governor Newsom is focused on leading the state and the recovery from the LA fires — not politics,” a spokesperson said.

“Even Republican Party leaders have criticized these repeated attempts as a brazen campaign finance ‘grift,’ and the recall organizers have been sued by their own donors for pocketing funds raised previously.”

Since 2019, there have been eight tries to recall Newsom. Only one made it to the ballot, with Newsom easily defeating conservative talk radio host Larry Elder.

The recall push, led by the group Saving California, blames Newsom for mismanagement. Chairman Randy Economy, who led the 2021 recall attempt, said, “So this is going to cost hundreds of millions of dollars to do this recall. Well, you know what? So be it.”

Read more at Fox LA.