He's Back: Mel Gibson Steps Out for Apocalypto

Slowly, but surely - and, hopefully, soberly - Mel Gibson is stepping back into the spotlight.

First, the Jew hater walked his daughter down the aisle. Now, he's been seen and heard visiting two towns in Oklahoma and a film festival in Texas last week to screen a rough cut of his weird film, Apocalypto.

While Gibson didn't make public appearances in Oklahoma, he did stop by screenings at Cameron University in Lawton on Thursday and the Riverwind Casino in Goldsby on Friday, the Associated Press reports. At the former, he showed up wearing a mask and wig so he wouldn't be recognized.

Maybe Karrine Steffans should try that. Oh, wait, no one knows who she is, anyway.

Jhane Myers, an Oklahoma City-based publicist who worked with Gibson during his visit to the state, said in a statement that the actor and director was "deeply touched by the warm reception he has received while in Oklahoma."

A rep for Lindsay Lohan, meanwhile, said the actress is often deeply touched by guys.

On Friday, Gibson made a surprise appearance at the Fantastic Fest, an event devoted to science-fiction and horror movies in Austin. There, he took questions from the audience after the screening of Apocalypto, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Gibson drew parallels between the collapse of the Mayan society, dramatized in his film, and present-day America.

"The precursors to a civilization that's going under are the same, time and time again," he told the audience. "What's human sacrifice if not sending guys off to Iraq for no reason?"

Zing! What would President Bush have to say about that? We'll ask him if he ever stops admiring Matt Lauer.