AS Roma fans at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday were joined by Hollywood actor Mel Gibson, who was photographed with two tins of what appear to be nicotine pouches in his pockets.
The photos were shared by Lega Serie A’s official X account with the caption “Mel Gibson” followed by a handshake emoji, tagging @OfficialASRoma and using the hashtag #RomaVerona.
Mixed reactions
The post drew a mix of responses. Some fans welcomed him warmly, posting “the greatest,” “Welcome to Roma,” and gifs of Gibson as Braveheart. Others were critical. One user wrote: “Promoting racists, not a good look.” Another commented: “The racist and the anti-semite?” while a third joked: “Double Zyn nipped up.”
Nicotine pouches like Zyn are tobacco-free products that have grown rapidly in popularity. Placed under the lip, they release nicotine without combustion, avoiding the tar and smoke that make cigarettes so harmful.
Harm reduction experts say they offer smokers a much safer alternative and can reduce the risks of cancer, lung disease and heart disease. The products are not risk-free but are generally regarded as substantially less harmful than smoking.
From smoking to nicotine pouches
Gibson’s apparent use of nicotine pouches is notable in light of his recent comments about quitting cigarettes. Speaking to U.S. podcaster Joe Rogan in January, he revealed he had smoked for 45 years before stopping after reading Allen Carr’s Easy Way to Stop Smoking.
He said he had dismissed the book for years until a diagnosis of first-stage emphysema prompted him to pick it up. Emphysema is a chronic lung disease that damages the air sacs in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. “I read it and I stopped,” he told Rogan. “It worked like crazy.”
While emphysema is generally considered irreversible, doctors agree that quitting smoking at any stage dramatically slows the disease’s progression and reduces the risk of further damage.
According to the UK’s NHS, people who stop smoking benefit almost immediately – circulation improves within weeks, lung function begins to recover within months, and long-term risks of serious illness such as COPD, heart disease and cancer drop significantly.
The new images suggest that although Gibson no longer smokes, he’s still using nicotine.
In June, entrepreneur and biohacker Dave Asprey shared photos on his Instagram account of Gibson with nicotine pouches – much like the shots from the Roma match.
Asprey, who has promoted nicotine as a nootropic (a cognitive enhancer), described Gibson as “smart to use nicotine for longevity” but suggested Zyn was “not the optimal choice.”
Career highlights and controversies
Gibson is one of Hollywood’s most recognisable actors and directors. He rose to fame in the 1980s with roles in Mad Max and Lethal Weapon before directing and starring in Braveheart in 1995, which won five Academy Awards in total, including Best Picture and Best Director for Gibson. He later directed Hacksaw Ridge, which earned further critical acclaim, and has more recently appeared in the John Wick spin-off series The Continental.
Alongside his professional achievements, Gibson has long attracted controversy – from making anti-Semitic remarks during a drunk driving arrest to allegations by actor Winona Ryder in 2020 that he made homophobic and anti-Semitic comments at a party.
Gibson is currently in Italy ready to begin filming The Resurrection of the Christ, a long-awaited sequel to his 2004 box office hit The Passion of the Christ.
