Whoopi Goldberg to critics who called about Mel Gibson comments: 'You can kiss my behind'

07/14/2010 by Corinne Heller

Whoopi Goldberg says people who phoned her office to complain after she said Mel Gibson was not a racist could "kiss my behind", amid the release of an audio tape of what is reportedly the actor's expletive and racial slur-filled conversation with ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva.

"There has been a lot of hassle in the media recently ... 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," Goldberg said on Wednesday on ABC talk show The View, which she co-hosts."Now, being a black woman, you would think I'd be able to feel if I was around a racist."

"People lost their minds," she said. "I do believe had you actually watched the show ... you would have heard me specifically say I don't condone this. Then people called my office and went off on the young lady that works there. You're going to call because you think I'm doing something wrong? Who are you? Pfft! You can kiss my behind!

"Don't be a coward. I can sit up here... and say this is what I believe and you don't have to like it. But then you call my office, you cowardly piece of dog mess!" she added.

In a the latest audio recording of what is said to be Gibson's phone rant against Grigorieva, the actor reportedly threatens to burn a house down, demands their baby daughter and reveals he is seeing a therapist. Gibson has not commented on the recordings, which are from a tape obtained by RadarOnline.com. Grigorieva's attorney has said her and Gibson's voices are the ones featured on the tape.

The audio files were published a week after an investigation of the actor regarding her domestic violence allegations was opened

Goldberg had said on Tuesday: "I dont like what he did here, but I know Mel and I know hes not a racist. I have had a long friendship with Mel. You can say hes being a bone head, but I cant sit and say that hes a racist having spent time with him in my house with my kids. I cant say it. I dont like what hes done. Make no mistake."

Goldberg went on to say on Wednesday that she could also be interpreted as a racist herself.

"I mean, you're laughing but here's what happens - if you cut me off when I'm driving and I happen to look over, whatever I see, that's what you are," she said. "You are everything in the book in my book."