Whoopi Goldberg defends Mel Gibson: 'He's no racist'

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By Greg Wilson
NBCNewYork

Mel Gibson, whose angry rants at his Russian baby mama have his career on the ropes, has finally found a defender in Whoopi Goldberg and is reportedly getting therapy.

Goldberg stuck up for the Braveheart star on ABC’s The View, just days after radaronline released what appear to be secretly recorded tapes of Gibson raging at Oksana Grigorieva. At one point, he allegedly tells her that her provocative outfits will get her “raped by a pack of n——-s.” In another segment, Gibson allegedly refers to Latinos as “wetbacks.”

“I don’t like what he did here, but I know Mel and I know he’s not a racist,” said Goldberg, who in the past has defended pariahs Roman Polanski, Michael Vick and Jesse James.

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“I have had a long friendship with Mel,” Goldberg said. “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.”

Co-host Joy Behar reminded Goldberg of Gibson’s 2006 rant to a police officer after he was arrested for DUI, in which he railed against Jews. Goldberg dismissed that incident as the booze talking, but acknowledged Gibson sounds sober in the latest rant.

Gibson, 54, has not denied being the voice on the tapes, but they have not been verified. Grigorieva denies releasing them. Gibson began therapy earlier this year and is still getting the psychological treatment, a source close to him told People magazine.

Gibson began seeing a shrink because “he realized how unhealthy the relationship was and recognized that they were in a bad place and he was getting his buttons pushed,” a friend of the actor told the magazine.

The pair split in March, signing an agreement for shared custody of their 8-month-old daughter.