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July 20, 2010 7:53 PM

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Katie Couric's Notebook: Mel Gibson

By: Katie Couric
Topics: Katie Couric's Notebook

It starts with an argument, then maybe a slap or a punch. A quarter of all women in the U.S. will experience at least one episode of partner violence in their lifetimes.

Oksana Grigorieva's alleged story is just one of millions, but because of a famous man and some infamous recordings, hers is on every blog and supermarket checkout line in America.

One headline on MTV called Mel Gibson's disturbing and disgusting rant "racist" and "sexist." They got it half right. His alleged attacks, both verbal and physical, were not just sexist...they were downright violent. The Justice Department reports women who are verbally abused by a partner are more likely to be raped, beaten or stalked by that partner.

The tabloids will trumpet every new detail...Mel gets dropped by his agent...Mel's career might be over.

I'd prefer to see this story give voice to millions of women enduring abuse and longing for a way out...who have no tape recorder to capture their fear.

That's a page from my notebook.

I'm Katie Couric, CBS News.

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by KatthFord123 July 23, 2010 4:49 PM EDT: Katie is incorrect. The only issue involving this case is veracity, is this case. The custody Judge has alread labeled Oksana "disengenous at best"

Domestic violence is an important issue, however the allegations of domestic violence in this case remain allegations.

Gibson has never been charged, ergo, it isn't definitely a case of domestic violence at all.

The above stands for any and all accused of any alleged crime.; Reply to this comment


by steve3109 July 23, 2010 12:01 PM EDT: Katie is right the real issue is domestic violence..; Reply to this comment


by capsman727 July 23, 2010 11:52 AM EDT: Funny how a convicted child molester gets the support of Hollywood and the Media, but an "alleged" assault gets scrutiny and anger.; Reply to this comment

by Darya28 July 23, 2010 3:04 AM EDT

As a 28 year old Russian female lawyer, I'm offended twofold.

One, Oksana is a gold-digger not because she is Russian, but because she is a gold-digger.

Two, who is Katie Couric? Did I hear "millions of women" are victims? In America? Last I heard, women are equal participants in all walks of life, not helpless little animals. Oksana certainly is not, and I resent her portaying herself as a victim, where clearly, she's running this hypocrisy of a media campaign for money.

Katie, you're unfollowed. What a weak excuse for feminism.

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by KatthFord123 July 23, 2010 4:51 PM EDT: i AM ALSO UNFOLLOWING HER

by Shannon_D July 23, 2010 2:48 AM EDT

I used think Katie was a serious journalist and loved her Palin interview. I've rarely been so disappointed: she's sunk to the level of a sensationalist, self-righteous boulevard blog.

Katie, this isn't journalism. It's taking sides, blatantly and without research. Who knows what the truth is? But now we know what your biases are.

A disappointed female professional.

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by doctornaturalmd July 26, 2010 10:43 PM EDT: Amen! I never did see what anyone saw in her or why she was on TV. She has demonstrated self-righteousness and thinks she is Leader of the World. I never can bear to watch her...Hopefully this foolish clip will decrease her ratings....she is not liked that I know of.

by lilywhiter July 22, 2010 10:12 PM EDT

Thank you so much, Katie. I kept wondering why people didn't mention the ABUSE as opposed to the slurs. All of it is bad, of course, but this woman was being threatened with death!

I lived this way for 25 years. And people wonder why women don't tell. It's because nobody believes us. So many people try to blame Oksana for the words coming out of Mel's mouth. Or that this is a private matter (makes you wonder if those people might just behave this way in private).

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by steve3109 July 23, 2010 12:04 PM EDT: well said!


by doctornaturalmd July 26, 2010 10:47 PM EDT: You are projecting your views onto this case. You have only seen telephone exerpts chosen by a conniving stealthy preying woman and you can see nothing else. Mel's wife and kids are the best witnesses of Mel's character. Not these deceptively recorded tapes. Hopefully you are not in a position of power to exert your judgments over others.


by yeseniabetweenfriends July 21, 2010 9:51 PM EDT: I can not express enough how impressed I am that Katie Couric took this perceptive on her coverage of the Mel Gibson and Oksana Grigoviera tapes. Her story provided the much needed platform to discuss the domestic violence so clearly portrayed on the tapes.

As the Program Director at Between Friends, a domestic violence agency in Chicago, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by a CBS report with some of our Youth Peer Educators about these tapes and how we are using them as an educational tool for teens to understand the dynamics of domestic violence and the characteristics of an abusive person. It is great to see that your network is acknowledging the REAL issue and taking a socially responsible perspective instead of attacking the victim in this situation.; Reply to this comment

by tkma69 July 21, 2010 6:03 PM EDT

What I find so disturbing is how everyone is somehow justifying Mel's actions. Where is his responsibility in all of this? He signed Oksana to a record deal! Come on, would you give this woman a record contract? Have you heard her? He did it because he wanted a little one-on-one singing.For somebody who has such a strict religion that doesn't believe in condoms and divorce, Mel sure picks and chooses what he rules he'll break. I figure if you leave your wife of almost 30 years to ***** around with some younger woman, and then don't have smarts to wear a condom, they YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE! Take note fellas this is the result when you use your little brain to do the thinking for you.

And all the people out there who are say oh, poor Mel, if this was your daughter, would you want somebody hitting her? Or talking to her like Mel has done here? And I bet these weren't the first threats that he bestowed on this girl. Hell, I'd be recording this idiot, too! If you threaten me like that, and more than once. I'm surely gonna proof of your rants!

Shoot, Mel sounds exactly like OJ in the 911 Nicole Simpson made to the police. And we all know what happened to her. DEAD!!!

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by steve3109 July 23, 2010 12:02 PM EDT: I agree!


by Quickandstudious July 21, 2010 2:37 PM EDT: Poor Mel.
If he did not have enough trouble now he is used as the basis for a feminist "education" summary. While I am sure he would be helpful in such an endeavor if he had already been convicted of anything, it is a little premature to link his name to such matters at this point.

BTW I have not seen it mentioned anywhere yet but the supposed bruises could easily have been faked with a little common makeup. That probably explains why she grabbed a camera instead of heading to a doctor or the police.
Try a story about people being set up and how easy it is to fool so many people with groundless innuendo.; Reply to this comment


by kenhamlett July 21, 2010 2:10 PM EDT: Since C&C is apparently an opinion column I can overlook your conclusions but do protest the foundation for these opinions.
First you only have less than half of the story. Gibson has not divulged his side yet.
Second the tapes are snippets not relating the entire conversation. Third even with only snippets some portions make it obvious that this woman is reading from a notebook so had a predetermined plan for entrapment.
Fourth I find your references to supposedly verbal assault equating to physical violence to be absolutely absurd. Verbal retaliation is the substitute not the precursor for violence.
Fourth saying such things is not necessarily racist or sexist. This is a marital style argument and although the conversation was snipped, it is highly likely this was an escalating anger prompted by taunts and female abusive banter. A person is likely to say anything when angry and really has no relationship to the base values of the person.
Fifth and sixth. It rates two spots. This is not a very talented woman. Some make it sound like she was a world class performer. Have you heard her? I can find better talent at local churches and they would never think of displaying their talents as being world class. They are trying to portray mediocre talents as a career. This "career" is only good for arguing a settlement. Otherwise it is not irrelevant.

Feel free to have your opinion but there is so far no foundation for any conclusions. What you are treating as a foundation is really just the loose dirt being slung around by a a couple that are apparently out of love. If you have never had a family quarrel this sounds pretty standard. Thus I will wait a while before deciding anything, except for the talent portion of this message.; Reply to this comment

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