Mel Gibson has been roundly criticised after a tape of the actor apparently verbally abusing his ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva was handed to a celebrity news website.
According to RadarOnline.com who have heard the tape, Gibson can be clearly heard threatening his ex and using racist language. "You're an embarrassment to me," he is apparently heard telling Oksana. "You look like a f***ing pig in heat, and if you get raped by a pack of n***ers, it will be your fault. How dare you act like such a bitch when I have been so f**king nice. I am going to come and burn the f**king house down, but you will blow me first. Look what you did to me. Look what you are. Look what every part of you is. F**king fake, f**king fake. You are the most synthetic person... who the f*** are you?"
Following accusations earlier this week that Gibson had been physically abusive towards Oksana, the tape is the latest twist in an increasingly bitter legal battle over the custody of the former couple's eight-month-old daughter, Lucia. A source has explained Oksana's reasons for making the tape. "Oksana's motivation for recording this was to show Mel how mean he was, and because she feared for her life," said the insider. "She wanted to get evidence that he was dangerous and violent. Mel is doing everything he can to suppress this. They are the rantings of a mad man."
"Mel Gibson's outburst demonstrates once again that we are far from a society that is beyond race and racism," civil right activist Jesse Jackson - one of many speak out against the actor - said in a statement. "His penchants for anti-Semitic and racist diatribes reveal the actor's fundamental character flaw. He needs help."
High-profile celebrity lawyer Gloria Allred said, "If in fact these quotes are accurate, Mr Gibson's statements are appalling. They exhibit the worst kind of racism and sexism. They clearly demonstrate a woman-hating temperament which, in my opinion, is dangerous to women."
Leon Jackson, president of civil rights group NAACP added, "It is unfortunate that a man of his statue and admiration, who has made his millions off women, African-Americans and Jews, harbours such racist, sexist, and anti-Semitic feeling against people who have admired and respected him for decades. An apology is insufficient."
Gibson's legal team have said they will not comment on the tapes, adding that the actor's publicist - the only person who will comment on behalf of him - will respond in due course. However, the star has apologised in the past for a racist outburst. Following Mel's notorious drink driving arrest in 2006, when the Lethal Weapon star was caught telling the arresting officers, "F**king Jews... the Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world," the actor blamed his remarks on "a moment of insanity" and insisted his Christianity meant he was no racist. "I am not a bigot, " he explained. "Hatred of any kind goes against my faith."
