High-profile attorney Gloria Allred issued an open letter to self-proclaimed Mel Gibson-pal Whoopi Goldberg following “The View” host’s incredulous take on abuse claims from Gibson’s ex girlfriend.
In the letter, Allred focused on the one aspect of Oksana Grigorieva’s story that Goldberg couldn’t seem to get past during a recent interview with RadarOnline’s David Perel — why the mother of Gibson’s youngest child didn’t call the police when the alleged abuse began.
“Whoopi, the answer is that there are many reasons that women who have been battered do not immediately go to the police,” Allred wrote in the message published to RadarOnline.
To illustrate her point, Allred highlighted some of those reasons, including a feeling of shock, a false sense of future safety or financial dependence — “all, none, or just some” of which could apply to Grigorieva. But ultimately, she explained, reasons aren’t really the point.
“Whoopi, as we say in the domestic violence movement, there is no excuse for abuse,” Allred insisted. “To that I will add there is also no excuse for others who do not know all of the facts to join in with a verbal attack on the victim.”
Rather than continuing to focus on what she believed Goldberg did wrong, the lawyer ended her missive with a personal appeal to the comedian-turned-talk-show co-host.
“Whoopi, I have always admired and enjoyed your talent, your work and your point of view,” Allred noted. “I know you care deeply about women’s rights and about victims. Your life and your views have been an inspiration to many. Please help us to end violence against women and children by supporting women in these complicated situations in the future. You have a daughter and a granddaughter. We need you on the side of the victims.”
DiCaprio recalls Winslet’s marriage woes When asked about the recent split between Kate Winslet and her soon-to-be ex-husband, director Sam Mendes, Leonardo DiCaprio confessed he saw signs of trouble on the set of their last film.
DiCaprio, who’s remained a close friend to Winslet since their “Titanic” days, filmed steamy scenes with the actress for “Revolutionary Road,” and the fact that those scenes weren’t a problem for Mendes became a big problem for the Winslet.
"It was certainly a difficult time,” DiCaprio said in a quote published in the Daily Mail. “She was really worried that Sam wasn't bothered by the fact that his wife was making out with another guy right in front of her.”
At the time, the actor couldn’t understand his co-star’s concern.
“I told her it was only acting, but she kept on saying, ‘This is really weird,’ ” DiCaprio explained. “When Sam started telling her exactly how to have sex with me, she didn't like it at all. She was freaking out because she was supposed to be having sex with her best friend — me — while her husband directed.”
Dish on the fly
While Lindsay Lohan takes a forced break from work for court-ordered rehab, there’s no time off for her off-again on-again surname-free assistant Eleonore. A TMZ report revealed, Eleonore is “super-stressed” from dealing with the actress’s mother and sister, Dina and Ali Lohan. “(Dina) goes on about nothing for days,” a source said. As for LiLo’s 16-year-old sister, she’s said to be keeping Eleonore busy with whatever the wannabe-famous teen needs. … Madonna’s current look, as well as that of other stars accused of trying to find the fountain of youth in a plastic surgeon’s office, just isn’t working, according to “Modern Family’s” Sofia Vergara. “L. A. is crazy. The women all look the same now,” Vergara said during an interview with Esquire magazine. “That thing with the cheeks … Like Madonna. Who do they think they're fooling? It doesn't make them look young. You end up looking like a freak.”
Tabloid Tidbits is compiled by Ree Hines. Follow on Twitter to gab about the latest gossip.