Filed under: Celebrity News, Dr. Boyce Money
Gibson's daughter is an 8-month old girl named Lucia. In his recorded outburst, Gibson told Grigorieva that he would take care of his child, even as he said that it would be her fault if she were "raped by a pack of n*ggers." In the court hearings, Gibson also told the judge that he needs his $7.2 million "slush fund" to support his lifestyle.
It's been difficult to determine whether or not Gibson actually has any money. On one hand, the film he financed, "The Passion of the Christ," grossed over $600 million world-wide. He owns an island in Fiji, and has been a solid real estate investor for years (notice for black folks: Owning and investing is the way to get wealthy). He also had no problem landing acting opportunities until recently. On the other hand, Gibson is recorded telling his girlfriend about his financial problems, largely rooted in a long list of obligations to others. "I don't have any f---ing money! I have to support you and everybody else!" Gibson said to Grigorieva during one of the phone conversations.
I am not sure why the actress Whoopi Goldberg stepped out in Gibson's defense. On her show, "The View," Goldberg argued that she knows Gibson and his family and that he is not a bad person. Goldberg also defended film director Roman Polanski, who pleaded guilty to raping a 13-year old girl, and Ted Danson after he used black face in an acting skit. Perhaps being rich and famous automatically makes you a good person in the eyes of Goldberg.
Either way, it appears that Mel Gibson's life is a mess. I would say that I wish him the best, but that might not be the truth. Instead, I look forward to seeing how all this turns out, and I hope that Gibson can confront whatever demons cause him to think of blacks and Jews in a derogatory way.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.