Gibson calls his anti-Semitic outburst 'ramblings of a drunkard'

A clean-shaven and casually dressed Mel Gibson called his anti-Semitic rant this summer "the stupid ramblings of a drunkard" in aninterview with U.S. morning show host Diane Sawyer.

The interview, which is set to air Thursday and Friday on Good Morning America, is the controversial actor and filmmaker's first media interview since he was arrested in July for driving while impaired and made anti-Semitic remarks to the arresting officers.

Later, Gibson acknowledged his "vitriolic and harmful words" and issued an apology.

In August, he pleaded no contest to charges of drunk driving, for which he was issued a fine, will serve three years of probation and must attend alcohol rehabilitation classes.

Battle with alcoholism

In his apology, Gibson also admitted that he has fought alcoholism all his life.

"Years go by, you're fine," the Passion of the Christ director told Sawyer in the Good Morning America interview, according to a partial transcript of the interview released by ABC.

"And then all of a sudden in a heartbeat, in an instant, on an impulse, somebody shoves a glass of Mescal in front of your nose and says, 'It's from Oaxaca.' And it's burning its way through your esophagus and you go, 'Oh man, what did I do that for? I can't put the toothpaste back in the tube.' "

Hollywood plans

Gibson acknowledged that some in Hollywood will now refuse to work with him because of his anti-Semitic outburst.

"I feel sad because they've obviously been hurt and frightened and offended enough to feel that they have to do that," he said.

"It's their choice. There's nothing I can do about that."

In the interview, the Lethal Weapon and Braveheart star also says that staying sober remains a struggle but that he has not had a drink in 65 days.

"All you can do is take another step, keep breathing," he said of his life and his plans to continue making movies.

Gibson has been keeping a low profile since the arrest but turned up in September at preview screenings of his new movie, Apocalypto, to answer questions from the audience.

The film, slated for release Dec. 8, chronicles the decline of the Mayan empire and features actors speaking in an ancient Mayan dialect.