The Jewish star of the Scandal TV series was on the receiving end of antisemitic abuse this week after tweeting “f*** Mel Gibson” during the Oscars.

Joshua Malina, who also starred in political drama The West Wing, tweeted the words in response to Hacksaw Ridge, which was directed by Gibson, winning two Oscars for film editing and sound mixing.

In turn, he received comments calling him a “Jew rat” and a “Kike”, and that “we’ll leave the oven on for you”.

In July 2006, Mel Gibson was arrested for driving under the influence. The arresting officer was Jewish, and Gibson launched into a tirade, saying: "F***ing Jews... the Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world”.

In 2010, he was recorded during a phone call talking to his then-partner, Oksana Grigorieva, saying that she would be to blame if she “got raped by a pack of n******”. Ms Grigorieva later obtained a restraining order against Gibson, and he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanour battery charge. 

When Mr Malina was told by another user that he should “have a better sense of forgiveness” as a Jew, he responded by saying “I don’t need Jew lessons from you, thanks”.

When it was suggested to Mr Malina that he should keep “art and ideology” apart, he replied: “That’s why I tweeted ‘f*** Mel Gibson’ rather than ‘f*** hacksaw ridge’”.