Whoopi Goldberg Defends Herself Defending Mel Gibson

By PopEater Staff Posted Jul 14th 2010 02:00PM

Whoopi Goldberg has come under fire for remarks she made in defense of Mel Gibson after several of his obscene, racially-charged rants leaked online.

"There has been a lot of hassle ... in the media recently about moi because I had the audacity to say that I had some personal time with Mel that goes over years and years and said that I did not think of him as a racist," Whoopi began on 'The View' today.

"If you had actually watched the show, you would have heard us say, and you would have heard me specifically say, 'I don't condone this. I don't think this is right, I don't think this is smart. But here's the piece of information that I have. My experience tells me that this is not a racist,'" she continued.

"Being a black woman, you'd think you would give me a little bit of leeway to have some feelings if I was around a racist." Watch the Video After the Jump!

"People called my office and went off on the young lady that works there. You're going to call because you think that I'm doing something wrong. And you do the same thing to this young lady that you don't even know that Mel Gibson supposedly did? Who are you?" she says, making a spitting noise. "You can kiss my behind."

On Monday, Whoopi explained her position on Mel. "I know Mel, and I know he's not a racist. 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."

Goldberg also blamed his 2006 anti-Semitic tirade after being stopped by police on alcohol. "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."

But her fellow hosts weren't as keen to forgive the actor. Joy Behar told The Insider that Mel is not welcome on 'The View.' "Barbara [Walters] would not allow him on the show."

"Barbara's Jewish, he's an anti-Semite, he's a racist ... so he's done," Behar added.

The fourth tape of Gibson yelling at his ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva recently surfaced. In it, he makes demands for oral sex before threatening to burn the house down.

In the other tapes, he screams racial slurs, admits to hitting Oksana and calls her a slut.

What Do You Think of Mel Now? Tell Us on Facebook

Tags: barbara walters, joystiqfeatures, mel gibson, whoopi goldberg

Comments

(727)

Wednesday 14 July

By Bravo

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Whoopi has my vote. I may not always agree with what she has to say but she is not vicious or mean in her words. She speaks from the heart and i can totally agree to disagree with her and she is the kind of woman that can accept that. We are all different and I am tired of having to think about every word I speak to make sure it is so called "politically correct". It's bullsh_t. I have the right to be friends with whomever I please and not suffer an backlash from anyone. I have the right to stand up for my friends although what they have done may be wrong. Whoopi has done exactly that. She emphatically states that what Mel allegedly has done is wrong but as a man and as her friend she stands behind her belief that he is not a racist.

Friday 16 July

By Sheila

Vote down Vote up Report this

Well said, Whoopie! Mel has problems and needs to work on them. I have to wonder about Oksana's real purpose here to leak these tyrades. She new his temper and drinking problems before she was with him. She obviously did not "help" him. Don't get me wrong I am not blaming her, but why publicize all this. Was her purpose to ruin him?

By Barbara

right on??????????? He knocked her teeth out while she was holding their innocent BABY! Who cares if he's racists or not! The man needs SERIOUS help NOT public limelight in support of all "he's gone through"!!!

By Martin

Ops, they caught me again. I read this crap. I didn't mean to, but I did.

By Kassaundra

same i think its funny how people get so worked up on things people they dont even know are doing

By Mary

Whoppi said from her experience, so why did people get so upset with her? Every word a person says seems to be picked apart these days on television. People are so crazy and judgemental now. I don't like where society is headed.

By Vernell

I agree with you, every word is being picked apart and not representing us as face value.. Utilize our full statements then critic....

By jojo29palms

WHOOPI i saw it and i am happy you said what you think because all my life people in (general) put me down and i am not stupid i am just slow to understand maybe one day i can put all of what i been through in a book i was a new yorker and i had to move but my dream is to go back to NEW YORK this year to see my son from jojo29palms@verizon.net AND I REALLY THINK YOU ARE THE GREATEST TAKE CARE

By secph

I think there are always 2 sides to a person. The things you heard growing up are there buried if you personally rebel against them. But when you are in a state of rage and/or drunkeness, those really awful hurtful things are in your arsenal to use when you are lashing out at someone. We know nothing about Mel. He is an actor we see in movies. Let people who actually know him judge him.

By Michele

Exactly, that was HER viewpoint, and afterall, isn't that what the show is? THE VIEW. Whether Mel Gibson is or is not a racist is not the point, she was explaining/defending her opinion.

By just wondering

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

whoopie is the biggest (no--2nd--sherri is the biggest) racist on the show! who is SHE who thinks her word is the last word??

By Lisa

Actually, she's NOT!

By camelopardalis

Why do you say Whoopi is racist? Do you remember years ago when she did "black face" with the white actor from Cheers? I forgot his name, but they were romantically tied also. A lot of black people were offended by that and thought she was making fun of her race. In fact, she's been romantically linked to more than one white male. Where do you get your information from?

By Monica

Whoopi is as close-minded as it can get. You see, only SHE can define a term. Her big rant today was: don't go off on my receptionist. Don't you just love her. Everyday she looks like she just came in from plowing the back 40. She's a self important mess with a big, frickin mouth.

By Lynnz

Woopie also did the first black and white onscreen kiss with Sam Elliott.. I do not see her as a racisit at all.. She actually knows Mel, unlike most people that are putting their 2 cents in

By loissully@bellsouth.net

right on

By PJIM424

No she's not racist just extremely bigoted (yes there is a difference) I have to say that her support of her friend has raised my opinion of her slightly. I loved her when she was entertaining and funny. Now she's just another loudmouth lib who believes her opinion is gospel. Her, Joy, Babs, Rosie, etc they are all interchangable. They need to be enlightened that strong opinions are not the same as intelligent, informed opinions. Can't stand the lot of them. But kuddos to Whoopie on this one. Oh and btw how's it feel to be taken out of context Whoopie? See you don't like it either. Try thinking before you speak about others also.

By tony

remember ted danson,just sayin.

By Genna

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

You don't the definition of the word, racist. Please stop. I think Mel is an obnoxious, absurd drunk. Period.

Whoopi is to be congratulated on what she said...she was right; and she usually is!

By Yrene

What hipocrites you guys are...if you don't like her stop watching her...if you're not interested in what she has to say...don't read the stories about her...but you're such hipocrites that you watch her show and read the stories just to have something to say about her. I'm not particularly a fan but I just hate judgemental hipocracy!!!

Page 3 of 37