Middle Age Hollywood

Joan Rivers criticizes Whoopi Goldberg for comments she's made in the past in defense of Mel Gibson on 'The View' (weekdays, syndicated), and things get tense between the two to the point where Barbara Walters intercedes.

"I said that he was a friend of mine and I didn't think he was a racist having spent a lot of time with him," said Goldberg, clarifying her defense of Gibson.

A drug-addled Whoopi Goldberg laughed her way through a live taping of The View after being sedated for an overseas flight.


Goldberg admitted she was still feeling the effects of the medication as she attempted to host yesterday's edition of the popular variety show.

"I'm jetlagged — I just came back from [an AIDS benefit event in] Vienna," Goldberg said.

"I may have partied too much but you know I have to fly drugged.

"So I'm still slightly drugged and I'm sure somewhere in me I'm still partying."

The 54-year-old comedian and actress appeared lethargic and repeatedly struggled to read the teleprompter while her co-hosts and studio audience laughed.

"You know what's funny right now? The fact that I'm sitting up straight," she joked at one point during the hour-long program.

Goldberg has reportedly battled a fear of flying for years.

Whoopi Goldberg just lost her shit on The View, addressing the media response to her statement that she didn't think Mel Gibson was a racist. Today she clarified what she meant by getting very, very mad.

The background: On Monday's episode, Whoopi and the gals discussed the Mel situation. Whoopi flat-out said that Mel wasn't a racist, but just a drunk:

Whoopi: I don't like what he did here, but I know Mel and I know he's not a racist… He may be a bonehead… 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 can't say it and so I really just need to say that. I don't like what he's done. Make no mistake…

Joy: Do you think he's anti-semitic?

Whoopi: I think he's an a**hole (covers mouth, audio is silent)

Joy: Somebody says to a police officer, "The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world." That's not anti-semitic?

Whoopi: 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. That's why I don't like alcohol. I can't say anything about that because I know what people are like when they're drunk. This rant, I don't think he's drunk on this rant…

Joy: A lot of people drink and don't say those things.

Well, that's interesting. And so Whoopi defended her statements and her analysis of who may or may not be a racist, seeing as she's a black woman. She also wanted to set straight "all the bloggers out there, and all folks who sit at home trying to find stuff to do," as well as the reporters who called her office for comment and were apparently not nice to her assistant. And we do feel sorry for her poor assistant — but not because of those phone calls.


If you believe that her comments on Gibson were indeed misinterpreted — or agree with her in that she should have some leeway with what she says about these matters — then she has a right to be angry. Though maybe not so much about people calling for comment. That's how this business works. And if everyone did take her insights out of context, Whoopi might want to work on her on-air communication skills.

Whatever you think of her "statement," you have to love the closing jab at Hasselbeck-style confessionals. It's a shame the camera didn't cut to Elisabeth for that one.

Yesterday on The View, Whoopi Goldberg defended Mel Gibson and said, "He's not a racist." Today, Goldberg continued to make her unlikely case, this time going after Gibson's ex Oksana Grigorieva and implying she's a golddigger.

We're no experts, but we think Whoopi Goldberg could probably find a better cause to take up than the defense of Mel Gibson, who was recently caught on tape spouting racial slurs during an argument with estranged girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva.

On 'The View' (weekdays, syndicated), Goldberg vehemently defended Gibson, arguing that she knows the actor personally and doesn't think he's a racist.

"I don't like what he did here. But, I know Mel and I know he's not a racist," Goldberg said.

"Well, that language certainly sounds racist to me," Joy Behar countered.

"I can't sit and say that he's a racist, having spent time with him in my house with my kids," Goldberg replied. "I can't say it."