Ah, New Orleans.
Mel Gibson dropped from Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans after ‘threats’
Mel Gibson has been dropped from a Mardi Gras parade’s lineup in New Orleans after organizers said they’d received “threats” and cited safety concerns.
The announcement was a quick reversal, coming just hours after the Krewe of Endymion, the group behind the largest Mardis Gras parade in New Orleans, had named him the co-grand marshal.
“The Krewe of Endymion has received significant feedback about our grand marshal announcement yesterday evening. Some of this commentary included threats that cause us great concern,” said Dan Kelly, the krewe’s president, in a statement provided to CBS affiliate WWL-TV in New Orleans. “In the best interest of the safety of our riders, special guests and everyone that welcomes us on the streets, Mel Gibson will not ride as a Co-Grand Marshal for our 2023 parade.”
Everyone swiftly berated the Endymion krewe for the move and jumped on the Glad Gibson’s Gone bandwagon when they pulled the invitation.
…Following Gibson’s removal from the parade, the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, the Greater New Orleans Clergy and the Jewish Community Relations Council issued a joint statement, saying they were “appalled” that parade organizers had chosen Gibson as co-grand marshal to begin with.
Relieved to put the controversy behind them, the krewes could go back to finalizing this year’s festivities and get their line-up of luminaries locked on. Hopefully, there’d be no more instances of questionable judgment that turned into causes célèbres.
Then again, it’s not called “The Big Easy” for nothing.
Trumpeter Irvin Mayfield released from prison early, added to Lundi Gras Festival lineup https://t.co/j9mvgFygDl
— WWL-TV (@WWLTV) January 17, 2023
So, let me get this straight. This fellow, Irvin Mayfield (a Grammy-winning trumpet player), was released early from prison and has been added to the Lundi Gras line-up. Oh, nice. Sounds like a case of redemption action. He served some time for whatever it was he did. Why would people be so upset?
…In January 2022, Mayfield pleaded guilty to diverting $1.3 million in New Orleans Public Library Foundation money to other accounts for personal use.
The investigation into the scandal began in 2015 and uncovered many specific purchases Mayfield made. He commissioned a 24-karat gold-plated bejeweled trumpet, spent $39,000 for a prepaid concert at Carnegie Hall and $18,000 for lodging and meals at the Ritz-Carlton in New York. A single breakfast at the luxury hotel totaled $1,435.
Mayfield wasn’t some out-of-work oil field Keystone pipeline guy or an impoverished shrimper or crabber robbing grocery stores to feed his family or make his boat payments. This guy operated within the highest levels of New Orleans society. And yet? It wasn’t enough. He had to take from the neediest levels of New Orleans. He and his buddy stole – stole, mind you – over a million bucks from the public library foundation. Good Lord.
…Mayfield and Markham siphoned money from the library’s charity, which both men chaired, to the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, where they each made six-figure salaries. In 2020, they pleaded guilty to conspiracy and admitted taking the money to pad their salaries and for luxuries for Mayfield, including five-star hotel, stays, limousines, top-shelf liquor and a $15,000 gold-plated trumpet.
…They must pay back the foundation at least $500 a month. At that rate, it will take 92 years to pay the balance.
SURELY, in a city that used to bristle with talent on every street corner…
…there had to be somebody else they could ring up for the gig? Someone deserving?
Or, being New Orleans…maybe not. As long as it’s local…
ZURIK: FBI expands investigation into Mayor LaToya Cantrell
…forgive, forget, lâche pas la patate*.
Lather, rinse, repeat, and New Orleans will eternally be its own worst enemy.
*Lâche pas la patate literally means “don’t drop the potato” and is a Cajun saying for “Hang in there/don’t give up.”
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