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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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 claudia

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Thank you Whoopi, I never thought for a minute that Mel Gibson said the N word out of racist reasons. Mel Gibson just said that out of being angry and not second thinking what he says out of his mouth. We all are guilty of saying things we later regret. I am a black lady and do not know him personally but I dont think his words were caused from him being a racist.

By Roger Lakins

I think that this clip says way more about Whoopi's kind heart and generosity of spirit than it does about Mel Gibson. It is simply not in her nature to kick an underdog.

By Spikepine

I am a black woman and I don't care if he is racist. However, I do care that he would hit a woman holding his child.

By Montana Miles

Mel read Proverbs 15:1 states . . .

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

The proverb is similar to what the mother of a famous preacher told me; make your words sweet, you might just have to eat them.

By salemgeorge

Mel may be an AMAZING actor and film maker. But clearly he sucks as a person. To let him off the hook, so to speak, because this is "personal" is akin to saying, "Yeah Hitler killed 6 million folks. But he makes a mean chocolate souffle. I don't get into his personal life." It's hogwash and a chickensh*t way of justifying and ignoring reprehensible behavior.

Oh and those making a deal out of the seeming value placed on the racial slur in relation to the other transgressions, it's a moot distinction. All of his actions were disgusting. Period.

By RUby

Smacks of the old "some of my best friends are black" notion. Just because he can sit at another celebrity's house and self-censor doesn't mean he isn't a racist. Of course, one's spouse should not record you and sell it to the highest bidder, but he was not self-censoring here and this is the real Mel Gibson. Makes it hard for me to want to go to a movie with him. Racist, misogynist antisemites are not all that sexy to me.

"Underdog?" LOL What kinda logic are you employing? He beat and verbally abused a woman. In what country does that make him the victim? Having your private, ugly, immoral behavior exposed and reaping judgement as a result, doesn't make one an underdog. It makes you "found out."

By Fred

Mel Gibson is a hateful guy. He got all of this from his nazi father. He is finished and needs professional help. WHAT A HATEFUL GUY. KEEP DRINKING MEL. I remember when they had some fires near LA and Mel blamed the Jewish people and their Hanukkah candles for starting it. Unbelievable.

By Forrest Greene

What would a White woman like Whoopi Goldberg know about racism?

By gcee

A drunk mouth speaks a sober mind. End of conversation

I still love Mel Gibson as a great actor and I find him just in a hard place facing many issues in his life. But I would never look at Mel as a racist man. I am a black lady, I just feel that he has an uncontrollable rage of anger and say things without even thinking. But Mels not racist, NO. The problem I am having with this young lady is why? would she be taping everything he says anyway. Was she setting him up for her greed for money? And after she said shes scarred for her life why was she still living in the house with him after he knocked her tooth out. She only took out a restraining order after all the tapes. Mmmm! just dont sound right to me. It sounds like she used him for financial security.

By Gabe Uttsex

Red45, what's your point? Did bullies call you mean names in school while forcing your head into the swirling tide of toilet waters. Your retort to the previous post leaves me wondering if maybe you had a lump of that 'baloney' you're so fond of festering and rotting the lining of your skull.
I guess what I'm saying is 'you don't have the actual knowledge to state that anyone doesn't have the knowledge for anything.
Maybe you should try wearing soft hats to match your soft head.

By littlecal

Everyday their is something about Mel Gibson, okay at first it was news now it is getting annoying,I do not care anymore what he does, Let's go on to another celebrity, they all have skeletons in their closet.

By Nina Hartley

As a long-sober friend says, "If it ain't in you sober, it ain't in you drunk."

Mel clearly has alcohol abuse issues but all alcohol does is lower inhibitions to say/do things that you already feel/believe to be so.

I admire Whoopie a lot, and I believe her when she says her experience of/with Mel have been fine over the years, but he can't be let off the hook for being a freaking abuser.

Being drunk when you drive and hurt someone doesn't get you off the hook, so why should it here?

By marianne

...so, in Whoopi's world, irregardless of Mel's notorious history of racist remarks, the proof as to whether he is racist is whether or not he is racist toward HER?

By Nadine

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Are you people insane??????? He is a disgusting human being. I agree, his personal life is none of our business, however, let me pose this question...if he murdered someone or molested someone in his personal life would you all feel the same way? His words are disgusting and anyone who thinks it is ok to say the things he has said is disgusting as well.

Wednesday 14 July

By kathryn

I like him so I think maybe the girlfriend might have done something to upset him and we do not know what it is.

I think consider both sides. Why did she hop into bed with him when he was married? Any tears for his ex wife who was married many years.Mel, if you are reading the gossips will get over it. Stay far, away from the girl. Trouble.......

By Tom

Celebrity solidarity trumps all.

First Melissa Ethelridge and Rick Warren, now Whoopi and Mel.

Money is thicker than blood...

By Jennifer Coffey

I don't need Adolph Hitler in the room with me to know what a monster he was. And Hitler was charming with all kinds of people, but he was a monster just the same. The same is true for, and of, Mel Gibson. He should be in prison, and I hope that is exactly what happens to him. Seems to me this isn't the first time Whoopi Goldberg has raised a contentious point to garner attention. I think there is already too much evidence pointing to the abuses of Mel Gibson, and if he were anyone but a well-paid actor, he would be in jail or headed in that direction.

By Emily

Ok...so the gist of what I'm seeing through these posts is "Mel did nothing wrong. That gold-digging 'ho' baby-mama of his was pushing his buttons. And he was drunk. Therefore, his rantings should be excused." Umm...people? REALLY? Just because a woman "pushes a man's buttons", that gives the man an excuse to be verbally abusive and make death threats towards her? And, as for Ms. Goldberg's claims, I know from personal experience (I live in Mississippi--Racism Central) that most white racists aren't ranting and raving lunatics in public. White racists will be perfectly cordial around blacks and act very friendly--some white racists can even have black friends! But privately, white racists say the most disgusting and horrible things about blacks, because the blacks aren't there to defend themselves! All of Mel's public scandals seem to be caused by his alcoholism, so he definately needs help. But the best rehab centers in the world can't cure racism, homophobia, and hatred of women. So, I think Mel's alcoholism MAY be able to be helped. His warped views of people other than straight, Christian whites: I doubt those views will ever change.

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