With a new, allegedly-not-terrible movie called The Beaver opening in limited release on May 6, Mel Gibson has finally faced the music and broken the silence that's followed the release of those incendiary tapes back in the summer of 2010.

These were the ones of heated phone conversations with ex-girlfriend and co-parent Oksana Grigorieva, which included the observation, "You look like a f—king bitch in heat, and if you get raped by a pack of ni—ers it'll be your fault," as well as a short lecture on the proper etiquette for inter-Jacuzzi oral sex exchange. (You can listen to them here, or read a full transcript is here.)

Here, then, are the choicest bits from Gibson's interview with Deadline.com:

On how he could let them happen:

"[Looks at the ceiling and shakes his head and sighs] Who anticipates being recorded? Who anticipates that? Who could anticipate such a personal betrayal?"

On his perceived racism and misogyny:

"I've never treated anyone badly or in a discriminatory way based on their gender, race, religion or sexuality — period. I don't blame some people for thinking that though, from the garbage they heard on those leaked tapes, which have been edited. You have to put it all in the proper context of being in an irrationally, heated discussion at the height of a breakdown, trying to get out of a really unhealthy relationship. It's one terribly, awful moment in time, said to one person, in the span of one day and doesn't represent what I truly believe or how I've treated people my entire life."

On the cast of The Hangover Part 2 not wanting to work with him:

"You have to let that go...It's okay. You just have to let that go."

On Whoopi Goldberg's support:

"I like her even more now because she got it...I love her for it."

On fame:

"It's like trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube, but you can't. The toothpaste is out there. You realize change has happened."

[Deadline, photo via Getty]