This article is more than 13 years old

This article is more than 13 years old

Mel Gibson says his anti-semitic outburst in July was "just the stupid rambling of a drunkard," in his first interview since the incident earned him headlines around the world.

The Braveheart actor-director told a US television show, to be aired tomorrow and Friday, that he needed to heal himself and "allay the fears of others and to heal them if they had any heart wounds from something I may have said."

"It was just the stupid rambling of a drunkard, you know and ... the last thing I want to be is that kind of monster," he told ABC's Diane Sawyer.

Last July, the Braveheart director was arrested on a Los Angeles motorway on suspicion of drink driving, after being caught speeding. A three-quarters-full bottle of tequila wrapped in a brown paper bag was found on the floor.

According to portions of the arrest report that became public, Gibson launched into an anti-semitic tirade, accusing Jews of starting all wars and demanding to know if his arresting officer was Jewish.

The incident sparked international headlines, drew condemnation from Jewish leaders and led to speculation that Gibson's Hollywood career had been irreparably damaged.

Within days of the incident, Gibson had entered a rehabilitation clinic and undergone treatment for alcoholism.

Since then, Gibson has pleaded guilty to drink driving charges and was ordered to undergo rehabilitation for alcohol abuse. He also issued apologies for his comments via his spokesperson.

Yesterday, ABC released extracts from its interview with the star. The interview comes as Gibson's latest film, Apocalypto, is due to be released in December. Speculation has been high that the incident may have harmed the film's commercial success.