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.

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

Comments

(727)

Wednesday 14 July

By Sanfrand

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You people who are all up in arms over Mel should get a life! That Russian broad played him for a pay-day and Mel is out of his mind with anger. Give the guy a break, he screamed words; not murdered somebody. WORDS!! Joy Behar won't have him on her show with Barbara? Oh no! What will Mel ever do? If he makes a good movie, we'll all go see it. Boycott Mel? You're an idiot.If you wish to make a stand, keep your ten bucks, I'm sure you'll really hurt him good!

By Teresa P

Mel is pissed off at himself, or at least he should be. His marriage of over 30 or so years is over, and he left her for this younger woman and it didn't work out. Sure he is angry, instead of yelling at himself, he is venting. He has anger management issues, and name calling doesn't solve anything. One I like the example Whoopie used about being cut-off on a highway. Mel I hope you get some help, I used to watch your movies. Such a shame, and that is all I could say now.

By bestbunny10

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So if he makes a good movie--we'll all go to see it??? Really?/ I won't. period. While I detest Gibson and his drunken hypocritcal persona..I do tink that there is more to this. His girlfirend waited 6 months to release the tapes. She was very calm and he was raging mad. Seems like intrapment to me. He mentions on the tape that he felt no spirituality with his wife and that is why he left her.....and now he realizes that he chose the wrong person to leave her for. He feels he has been played and he is angry. While rip raoring arguments happen in many a realtionship and many say things that they really didn't mean or regret later..apparently he did hit her. Not acceptable. If it were uust words..I dont see that it is anyones business except the private parties involved. Oksana released those tapes to ruin Mel Gibsons reputation and career. She could have kept quiet and negotiated a financial deal with his privately. they are both detestable.

By Karen

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No one is saying this, but these tapes don't sound authentic at all to me. Her voice sounds very strange to me on the phone and the man's voice is far away in the background. I would really like someone to investigate this, are these tapes for real or did she have actors doing this? I find it all very strange.

By madcattv2

Whoopie is one of the most intelligent people on television and her personal experiences with Gibson GIVES her more right to weigh in on him than any of us that don't.

I liked Mel and liked a good portion of his movies...but this is a crash and burn if I ever saw one.

I hope he gets help and quietly goes away.

Tuesday 20 July

By JUDY

KUDOS TO WHOOPI! SOMEONE SHOULD STAND UP FOR THEIR FRIEND. I THINK THIS YOUNG WOMAN, OXSANA, IS OUT FOR MONEY. MAYBE AT SOME BEHIND THE SCENES COACHING. I FOR ONE AM TIRED OF HEARING THESE TAPES PLAYED OVER AND OVER. THE SENSATIONALISM SHOULD STOP AND LET THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUE WITHOUT TRYING TO CONVICT IN THE MEDIA.

By Jim & Marilyn

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

Whoopie,Jesse, and Al can say anything and get by with it..you and I have to walk on egg shells..

By Carla

this is in reply to Jim & Marilyn, .. You all have Fox news and Rush Limbaugh, The New Yorker.. do I need to go one?

By MercedesGabriella

Mel is by now yesterday's news. Yes, he seems to have said and done some despicable things, but I want to know about the Russian girlfriend and who helped her set up phone recording, impending lawsuit, and so on. And what does her first baby daddy have to say about her? Just curious.

By BC

I just fell in love w/ Whoopie again ......

By Nico Toscani

Mel's not a racist and Whoopi's not black. NEXT!

By wanda

i agree

By Lisa

LEAVE WHOOPI ALONE!!!! She is refreshingly honest and doesn't go with what everyone thinks she should do. She marches to her own drummer and that is what is great about her!!

By New York

Doesn't mean we have to agree with her.

By loustamm

Dont you just know the 1st Mrs Mel is ROTFLHAO

"NewYork", Did anyone tell you that you had to agree with her????? NO!!!

By JEFF elephant man WEINTRAUB

AND SHE HAS TO DO THE RASCIST VALLEY GIRL ROUTINE AGAIN.

By rds8729598

He Being a bone head

i did not stop watching Tom crusie "top gun" when he went nutz on talk shows .....

Mel got that stuipid human flu right now -
even if he is act stuipd does not make him a bad actor - just mean you need to put past all the stupid to getto the core of his carther on flim

By mark

Judge them on thier work not thier personal views. michael jackson was an alleged child molestor but a great musician and millions still listen to him. Kobe bryant an alleged rapist and unfaithful to his wife and family but millions buy the products he endorses and watch the games he plays in.Alec baldwin had a somewhat same rant to his daughter and called her a pig and his political views are not exactly what everyone else believes but he makes great movies and 30 rock is hilarious. Mel is and was a great actor he is losing his mind because of women, tell me a man that has not said something stupid because a woman is abusing him wether it be his money or his pride. If whoopi says he is just letting off steam you have to believe her and Mel is a good actor so if you forget his personal life you'll enjoy what many movies today are missing "good acting"

By john

Love ya Whoppi...beautiful blend of humor and unbiased intelligence. No stone thowing from here! Especially like the way you got your secretaries back! I always thought you were great, but I have a new found respect for you. Keep tellin it like it is.

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