I think he's more angry with himself that he got caught up with her. Mel's one of the good guys.
I think Mel must have multiple personalities.
He is a racist, and the son of a racist, and the believer in wacky racial conspiracy theories. What he “blurts out” is what he believes in his wacky skull. I don't know anybody who is only a few beers away from being a 9-11 truther, you either are or you are not. The ‘he was drunk’ or ‘didn't mean it’ excuse is wearing thin.
But if you have decided he is “one of the good guys” I guess he can do and say whatever he wants, eh?