Whoopi Goldberg: 'Mel Gibson Is Not a Racist'

By PopEater Staff Posted Jul 13th 2010 08:47AM

Mel Gibson's tape-recorded rants at baby mama Oksana Grigorieva are horrifying, but they're not racist, according to Whoopi Goldberg, a friend of the actor.

"I know Mel, and I know he's not a racist," Whoopi said on 'The View' on Monday, seeming both earnest and cautious to weigh in. "I have had a long friendship with Mel. You can say he's being a bonehead, but I can't sit and say that he's a racist having spent time with him in my house with my kids. I don't like what he's done, make no mistake."

The tapes, of which RadarOnline.com has released two parts thus far, feature an enraged Gibson bellowing at the mother of his 8-month-old daughter, relentlessly employing C-words, F-bombs and, sadly and disturbingly, racial slurs including the N-word.

When Joy Behar asked if Goldberg considered Gibson anti-Semitic after his 2006 tirade against a Jewish police officer in LA , Goldberg began calling him "an ass" before stifling herself. Whoopi then pinpointed alcohol as the culprit. "Drunks say stupid stuff to people all the time -- because they're drunk, they're out of control, they are not thinking, they are idiotic. I can't say anything about people like that because I know what they're like when they're drunk. This rant? I don't think he's drunk on this rant."

Whoopi concluded: "I'm not defending Mel. I'm simply saying I don't see him as [a racist] because that's not been my experience with him."

See the clip:

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http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/movies/?s_channel=us.moviespop&s_account=aolpopeater,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

Mel Gibson Snapshots

Mel Gibson laughs between takes while shooting a scene from the upcoming movie "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" on Wednesday June 9, 2010 in Brownsville, Texas.

THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

Mel Gibson Snapshots

©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Oksana Grigorieva has a meeting with her lawyer. A nasty tape recording containing a tirade of abuse, allegedly from Mel Gibson, was leaked to the press causing an even bigger feud between the ex-couple EXCLUSIVE July 1st, 2010 Job: 100701NC1 Century City, California www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

Mel Gibson Snapshots

Tags: Mel Gibson, The View, Whoopi Goldberg

Comments

(147)

Tuesday 13 July

By nonny2t

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This man truly needs help. Every picture of him I have seen in the last three years or so show he definitely has a drinking problem unless he has extreme allergies! He never has clear eyes and take it from one who grew up with an alcoholic father, I know the signs. His life has spun out of control and he needs someone to love him enough to get him some permanent help. As for the tapes, I too believe it is not the public's business just like the Alex Baldwin tape of his ranting on the phone to his daughter was not our business, but juicy gossipy disgusting stuff sells and those in the public eye should know that and be guarded. I just hope this man gets himself some help before he dies from his disease.

By hecapps

Why is it seemingly more important that used a"racial slur" than threatened to take a bat to his girlfriend's head? I guess it is more heinous to say something politically incorrect than to threaten murder!If he wants to use a racial slur,it isn't "disturbing"as the author says;it's his right as an American.

By trudy

You got that right. He uses the c word but its only sad and disturbing when he uses the n word? Shows how widespread hatred of women is.

By MissAngela

Thank you! That's exactly what I was thinking...It's all heinous.

And it's not something that we should care about more because there are rich people involved. This is happening in our neighborhoods too people!

By Lexis

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Jax & Tyson: I agree with you 100%.

By joyce

He was pissed, Whoopi is right, but he had a beautiful wife, and alot of kids.He should had stayed where he was,he strayed and now has another child ,nothing wrong with that,but now has an x-girlfriend ,means more money out of your pocket, MEL.

By bigteep

Interesting how Mel Gidson's tirade is getting a whole lot more media coverage than the black panther urging the killing of white's and white babies and calling them crackers.

By Kat

It is interesting, isn't it? One demented individual with a drug/alcohol problem gets extensive air time and attention for his hate-filled rants which impact a few people but... a political/activist group that advocates the killing of white women and their babies which impacts a large majority of people gets ignored by the same media. Interesting too is that the Black Panthers also advocate the elimination of black people who procreate with white people. Hmmmmmm - couldn't be the Media engaging in reverse discrimination, could it? I'm sure it couldn't be.....it must just be a coincidence. ;-|

By Jay

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Must have gotten confused whites burning, hanging blsck people in the South and killing Native American men -women and children.

By Rico

white killing panthers?!? lmao what the hell are you...

By Rex1946

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I couldn't agree more. Women have a habit of pushing the wrong buttons,especially gold diggers,(ask Paul McCartney). Mel's private life is his own; Period. I still love his work. Mel is a man who can express his own thoughts in his own home. And if you've never been an alcoholic, you can't possibly understand the dangerous and stupid things one can do, it's hell. "Man Up Mel, I know you have the grit.

By Ernie

@ Rex1946, because his wife "pushed his buttons", she deserved to be verbally and allegedly physically abused ? This type of behavior is acceptable as long as it is behind closed doors? What type of sicko are you? An annoying gold-digger or not, no woman or person deserves this type of treatment. I hope you do not have a girlfriend or children.

By bill

No more C words.
No more F bombs
No more N words.
That leaves only 23 letters to work with.
We're slowly moving back to grunting.
The NBA is moving sooner than others.

By recovered

Totally agree with Whoopi - Mel was drinking again. As a recovered alcoholic I can attest to the vile and stupid rants I bestowed upon people in my drinking days. Someone asked me how they could tell if I was drinking again.....just listen to my mouth! His tirage is a pent up anger taken out on those closest to him.

By Nico Toscani

Funny, but the person closest to him wasn't black. So why throw in the "n word"? I love how drunks always have a built in excuse for their stupidity. You don't say random, out of character things when drunk. You just say things you mean but would normally have the sense not to say.

By Spikepine

I am not concerned about the words Mel used, just the fact that he abused a woman. Are we going to excuse this and blame it on alcohol? A lot of drunk men do not hit women.

By Bobbie K

Mel Gibson is certainly not a good role model. I believe he is a racist and an admitted anti-Semite. (He has stated that the Holocaust never happened). I will not pay a penny to see any of his movies. He needs help with his alcoholism.

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

Jeez Bobbie, ya' think? Of course, don't try too hard to think logically around here.

By Sharon

At last there is someone here who will take Mel's words and not Whoppi's that he is a racist.
I, too, will never give him a penny of my money. And to all those who thought it was just a drunken rant, not withstanding that there is truth in wine - he didn't in the least sound drunk. He just sounded like a man who hated women and African-Americans. And we know that he is an anti-Semite.

By jane kelgman

I agree with Bobby. This man is a bigot and a racist, in addition to being abusive to women. Being a drunk is not an excuse. People have made changes in their lives. He has chosen not to. Those of you that continue to support him, by making excuses for his behavior, and spending money on his movies, are in effect, agreeing and validating him.

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