All he had to say is “My father said/believes some things that I don't necessarily believe.”
He said the OPPOSITE of that. That his father taught him, he believes what his father taught him, and that his father never lied to him.
In context it is obvious that he is saying that his father taught him Holocaust denial, he believes his father's Holocaust denial, and he insists his father never lied to him about the Holocaust.
So you admit causing division with his father was part of the agenda. It was obvious enough.
All he had to say is “My father said/believes some things that I don't necessarily believe.”
Mel should not have to publicly split with his father to prove himself to Hollywood or anybody else.