Whoopi Goldberg Defends Herself Defending Mel Gibson
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."
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"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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AND WHEN YOUR MAD YOU YELL BAD THINGS TO HURT OTHERS DOES NOT MAKE YOU A RACIST. I GET MAD AT PEOPLE ON THE ROAD AND YELL THINGS BUT I BY NO MEANS AM A RACIST, ONLY REASON PEOPLE DO IT IS TO HURT OTHERS. GOD PUT US ALL HERE NO ONE IS ABOVE ME OR BELOW ME, (ABOVE GOD IS) BUT I DO YELL SOME STUPID BAD THINGS AT TIMES
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But Oksana, to my knowledge, is not Black or Mexican. If he's not racist, what's the point of him using racially disparaging language to another white person. Does alcohol excuse everything. Or are all the people defending Whoopi actually defending themselves for the racist stuff they keep quiet and in their heads.
I deeply respect Whoopi as a honest, sensitive and very inteligent woman. So I trust her view.
I deeply respect Mel Gibson as a talented man, right now in a lot of trouble, in need of help for sure.
Lets not be so shallow and judgemental. Who are we to condemn others?
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Hey Lucia, STFU. If Whoopie said that Mel was a racist, u probably would describe her as a stupid animal. Isn't that what your family and friends refer to blacks in controlled settings?As for Mel, he's a racist bastard, alcohol induced or not. He needs more than help, he needs an enema of the brain.
Jeff, I find your question: "Isn't that what your family and friends refer to blacks in controlled settings?" says more about what YOU do and feel than anybody else.
@Julie NEGATIVE JULIE! That's a very convienent response; however, I know pandora's box was opened with that statement. It's not about what I do, its about what your people do behind close doors. Please understand, we know your kind better than they know themselves.
JEFF: I have never liked the sanctimonious phoneys in our society. Fortunately Gibson can get sober and possibly staighten out his life; which leaves the question, what will you do to get a mind? Gibson will be sober and Whoopie will move on and make a few more million and you will still have your head in your past!
I admire Whoopi for her remarks in defence of, and her not condoing in the same statement his behavior! She knows the man personally. She is a black woman. She surely would be the first to get a hint if Mel Gibson was a racist.
Behar and Babs, however are total non tolerant idiots - cannot stand either of them. There is no middle line with them - only that he is anti semite!
The man obviously needs help. Anger Management and perhaps more alchol rehab. Troubled Relationships can cause all kinds of stuff to spew out of your mouth in moments of extreme anger of pressure. He has gone thru a divorce, now his girlfriend is cashing in by making recordings - Mmmm - set up.
Mel get some help - you are a brilliant man - do not let us lose
your talents due to running off at the mouth etc etc etc.
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she dated ted danson too.
yeah...mel isn't a racist just like roman polanski isn't a rapist... according to whoopie roman didn't 'rape, rape' the 13 yr old...i guess he just raped her... like mel isn't a racist 'cause he isn't a 'racist, racist' i guess
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I agree with You Whoopi! You know what Your talking about, and You tells it like it is, Your the best! You go Girl tell the world just what you think!
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Rehab, Rehab and more Rehab,.....Bipolar Meds, Bipolar Meds, and more Bipolar Meds,.....Redemption, Redemption, and at last some Redemption. Move on those who hate the Mentally Ill. Mel is Mentally Ill.
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Thank you for hitting the nail right on the head! If raging alcoholics (and other addicts) would see a psychiatrist, they are likely to be diagnosed as bipolar or with some psychosis. People who have mental disorders are very likely to medicate themselves to stop themselves from feeling terrible, and to allow themselves to sleep, etc. Psychiatric meds can reverse the need to medicate themselves, while making them feel better *without feeling drugged*.
Whoopie! Your're not always right. Your word does not make it right.
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She offered her personal insight; you don't have to agree with her. She has the right and a microphone. Not everyone - even most - would take what she knew was a dangerous stand to defend her friend while condemning his behaviour. Get a grip.
What a person says when he or she is drunk is what they really want to say in the first place. Alcohol just gives you the nerve to say it. Sometimes it takes the alcohol to help one muster up the nerve to really let a person have it. Sometimes alcohol brings out racial fellings or sayings that we hold deep down within.
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Mel may be having problems right now, but that doesn't give anyone, anyone the right to critizise him. Unless you're his wife and have actually witnessed this you have no right to barade him. Unless you're perfect then you have no right what so ever. "Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone." People have problems. We all need to butt out of his life and let him deal with it. His films and job have nothing to do with his personal life. There are many others that go unjudged and do things even worse than this, so give it up. Whoopi has the right idea, drunks say dumb things. Get over it.
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Face it Whoop, your boy's a racist. It's not like he would call you the N word in your face. I see on the last tape he called the mexican maid a wetback.
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We keep hearing MEL MEL MEL .....and I do not condone what he did .BUT we are only hearing Mel speak .What did SHE say? this could have been an argument that she is partially or totally at fault for .WE Dont know both sides ......Why would she tape the conversation unless she knew what it was going to be about..and maybe antagonized him to say certain things .....he was still wrong ....... but everyone jumps to blame him .......
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Whoopi has a point. Yes he has made some racist remarks before and now, but I think this young woman has set him up and was coached into all this. Not only has she ruined his life she has brought an innocent child into the equation. You would think all these old geezer actors and muscians would keep their pants zipped and stop thinking they have to give up long term relationships for a younger woman. Todays younger women want it all and know just how to get it. Wise up rich old men
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