# What sexist thing(s) did Mel Gibson say when arrested? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 3, 2006, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sexist-thing-s-did-mel-gibson-say-when-arrested/367214 "2006-08-03T17:21:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sexist-thing-s-did-mel-gibson-say-when-arrested/367214/21 "2006-08-04T05:55:13Z")
[QUOTE=Spartydog] **Brown Sugar** Gold coast slave ship bound for cotton fields, Sold in a market down in new orleans… [/QUOTE] And don’t forget those _other_ famous soul brothers from the sixties. **The Archies**! _Sugar sugar. Ah honey honey. You are my candy girl…_ Sugar tits indeed! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sexist-thing-s-did-mel-gibson-say-when-arrested/367214/22 "2006-08-04T09:39:22Z")
[QUOTE=Squink] Only to some fraction of the people who know whether it does or not. That’s not a large subset of the US population. [/QUOTE] I have never heard “sugar tits” as having any racial overtones, and cannot find any cites on the internet indicating as such. So far, it seems Spartydog is the only person who thinks this. “Sugar tits,” when used as an insult, is purely sexist. Even the definitions at [urbandictionary.com](http://urbandictionary.com) have no mention of race in them. When I think “sugar tits,” I think of guys like The Jerky Boyz using slightly outmoded slang. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sexist-thing-s-did-mel-gibson-say-when-arrested/367214/23 "2006-08-04T10:11:56Z")
[QUOTE=Spartydog] **Brown Sugar** [/QUOTE] So I ask for an R&B tune that uses ‘sugar tits’ in a racist manner and you quote the Rolling Stones? Are you sure you kow what R&B is? _If_ she were black and _if_ Mel had called her ‘brown sugar’ you might have a case. I am asking you to explain how ‘sugar tits’ can be racist. You are he one who made the assertion. You are the one who has yet to provide a scrap of evidence. I care because you seem to be fostering ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sexist-thing-s-did-mel-gibson-say-when-arrested/367214/24 "2006-08-04T10:13:43Z")
It’s actually a term of endearment. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sexist-thing-s-did-mel-gibson-say-when-arrested/367214/25 "2006-08-04T10:24:31Z")
I don’t care if the sergeant in question was black as the ace of spades or as white as the pure driven snow, “sugar tits” is NOT and never has been racist. As a born again Southern boy, my experience tells me that a white woman is as likely to slap hell out of me as a black woman if I called either of them “sugar tits.” The slap would be administered as a rebuke for the lack of respect “sugar tits” showed, but it wouldn’t be because it was racist. I wish we could rebuild the levees; the ignorance is overflowing them. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sexist-thing-s-did-mel-gibson-say-when-arrested/367214/26 "2006-08-04T10:36:03Z")
People, people, don’t you see? If we turn on each other the Mel-orrists win! ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sexist-thing-s-did-mel-gibson-say-when-arrested/367214/27 "2006-08-04T10:37:15Z")
Photos, from the night he was arrested: From the looks of it, he probably called [these girls](http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/WolfFiles/popup?id=2260908&content=&page=1) “sugar tits” too, but they’re almost all white (one asian). p.s. Only 0.12 BAC? I thought he was hammered. What a lightweight. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sexist-thing-s-did-mel-gibson-say-when-arrested/367214/28 "2006-08-04T12:31:42Z")
[QUOTE=Eleusis] Photos, from the night he was arrested: From the looks of it, he probably called [these girls](http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/WolfFiles/popup?id=2260908&content=&page=1) “sugar tits” too, but they’re almost all white (one asian). p.s. Only 0.12 BAC? I thought he was hammered. What a lightweight. [/QUOTE] He’s holding a bottle of Stella Artois in one of those pictures. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sexist-thing-s-did-mel-gibson-say-when-arrested/367214/29 "2006-08-04T13:42:15Z")
Even if, based solely on the evidence of a Rolling Stones’ song, we were to concede that “Brown Sugar” = black woman, that hardly leads to the conclusion that _every_ phrase including the word “sugar” = black woman, so that, by extension, “sugar tits,” which contains the word “sugar,” must be racist. I mean, that’s some of the most tortured reasoning I’ve ever heard. Heck, in that cinematic classice _Overboard_, Goldie Hawn calls Kurt Russell “Sugar Lips” – guess she must have thought he was a black woman. :rolleyes: I’ve been called “sugar” in the past and I’m as white as wonderbread. “Sugar Tits” is a comment on her gender, not her race. And like I said in another thread, the proper response is “That’s _Officer_ Sugar Tits to you.” ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sexist-thing-s-did-mel-gibson-say-when-arrested/367214/30 "2006-08-04T14:01:57Z")
[QUOTE=Jodi] that hardly leads to the conclusion that _every_ phrase including the word “sugar” = black woman [/QUOTE] So when Manitoban rockers sing about “No sugar tonight in my tea”, they’re not _really_ lamenting the absence of black women in their marihuana cigarettes? Who’da thunk it? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sexist-thing-s-did-mel-gibson-say-when-arrested/367214/31 "2006-08-04T14:39:53Z")
I hate to interrupt such a fascinating and relevant debate with a different question, but: > [@TMZ](#): > > The deputy became alarmed as Gibson’s tirade escalated, and called ahead for a sergeant to meet them when they arrived at the station. When they arrived, **a sergeant began videotaping Gibson** , who noticed the camera and then said, “What the f\*\*\* do you think you’re doing?” Bolding mine. Anybody want to start a pool on how long it takes for this videotape to become public? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sexist-thing-s-did-mel-gibson-say-when-arrested/367214/32 "2006-08-04T15:17:27Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] Anybody want to start a pool on how long it takes for this videotape to become public? [/QUOTE] [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0a35UXkot1s/hqdefault.jpg "Mel Gibson Drunk Driving Arrest Video") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a35UXkot1s&t=t) ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sexist-thing-s-did-mel-gibson-say-when-arrested/367214/33 "2006-08-04T20:42:30Z")
[QUOTE=Spartydog] The term “sugar” in addressing someone is used more commonly (but not exclusively) in the black culture to address someone instead of using their name. If you really listened to R&B music or paid any attention to black speech idioms for many years you would be aware of this. [/QUOTE] Tis’ true. You’ll also note that the term “baby” in addressing someone is used more commonly (but not exclusively) in the black culture to address someone instead of using their name. As a listener of R&B music nad having paid attention to black speech idioms for many years I am aware of this. I mean we all know that if he would have said, “Hey baby,” well then he might as well have called her Aunt Jemima! ---
**Author:** ![Jean\_Poutine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a5b964/32.png) [@Jean\_Poutine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jean_Poutine)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sexist-thing-s-did-mel-gibson-say-when-arrested/367214/34 "2006-08-04T21:07:23Z")
Definition #2 of “sugar tits”, from [www.urbandictionary.com](http://www.urbandictionary.com): Any sufficiently attractive female law officer dispatched to oppress good Christian men by her masters within the international conspiracy of invisible Zionist superjews. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sexist-thing-s-did-mel-gibson-say-when-arrested/367214/35 "2006-08-04T21:08:39Z")
BTW, a “sugar tit” is a pre-curser to the pacifier. It was a small bundle of cloth filled with a mixture of melted butter and sugar for a baby to suck on. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sexist-thing-s-did-mel-gibson-say-when-arrested/367214/36 "2006-08-04T21:53:07Z")
[QUOTE=Eleusis] p.s. Only 0.12 BAC? I thought he was hammered. What a lightweight. [/QUOTE] That blows the “But I was DRUNK!” plea right out of the water. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2006, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sexist-thing-s-did-mel-gibson-say-when-arrested/367214/37 "2006-08-05T03:26:15Z")
[QUOTE=Squink] [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0a35UXkot1s/hqdefault.jpg "Mel Gibson Drunk Driving Arrest Video") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a35UXkot1s&t=t) [/QUOTE] I’m going to call Bravo Sierra on that video. That was obviously Tom Cruise. ---
**Author:** ![Frame313](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Frame313](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frame313)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2006, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sexist-thing-s-did-mel-gibson-say-when-arrested/367214/38 "2006-08-05T14:12:54Z")
[QUOTE=Spartydog] **Brown Sugar** [/QUOTE] Interesting, so why would they have to specify **Brown** sugar if it is such a common use? Anecdotally, I have lived in the south all of my adult life and have only ever heard two people use the term “Sugar Tits” - both were white and both were refering to white women. A quick glance through a few pages of a [Google](http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Sugar+Tits%22+lyrics&num=20&hl=en&lr=lang_en&newwindow=1&safe=off&start=0&sa=N) search find “Sugar Tits” & lyrics only hitting on an Insane Clown Posse song. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sexist-thing-s-did-mel-gibson-say-when-arrested/367214/39 "2006-08-06T08:14:16Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] Anybody want to start a pool on how long it takes for this videotape to become public? [/QUOTE] I believe the original reports said that the police officer had an _audio_ tape of the entire encounter. So there probably isn’t any videotape of this until the officer & drunk Mel arrive at the police station. But since the part where he called the female officer “sugar tits” was at the station, that part may well be on videotape. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sexist-thing-s-did-mel-gibson-say-when-arrested/367214/40 "2006-08-06T12:24:03Z")
[QUOTE=Spartydog] **Brown Sugar** [/QUOTE] I got your Brown Sugar [right here.](http://www.wban.org/biog/awolfe.htm) It seems to be a term of respect. At least, it is if you know what’s good for you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sexist-thing-s-did-mel-gibson-say-when-arrested/367214.md?page=1)