Mel Gibson split from ex-girlfriend turns bitter

[June 30, 2010]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Mel Gibson's breakup from Russian singer Oksana Grigorieva was supposed to be a quiet affair, but a confidential settlement and sealed court case haven't kept the former couple's troubles from hitting the spotlight.

The latest flare-up began last week when Grigorieva apparently named Gibson in a child custody case, which is sealed and will likely remain out of the public domain.

The seal hasn't kept the breakup out of headlines, though, continuing Gibson's streak in recent years of making news more for his personal life than his film career.

On Monday, the actor-director's attorney issued a statement revealing that the couple in May reached a custody agreement for their 7-month-old daughter, Lucia.

The contents of that pact were confidential, but attorney Stephen Kolodny accused the 40-year-old Grigorieva of violating its terms.

He said the actor has paid Grigorieva "tens of thousands of dollars," is providing his daughter with health insurance and a nanny and has bought a lavish home and a car for his ex-girlfriend.

Kolodny's statement said Gibson's payments to Grigorieva will change, but he did not indicate how.

"Mel has generously supported Lucia and will continue to do so," the statement said.

Grigorieva, who met Gibson while he was filming "Edge of Darkness," told The Associated Press that she could not discuss the case.

The singer denied online reports, however, that Gibson obtained a restraining order against her. Her attorney, Marci Levine, did not return calls and an e-mail seeking comment Tuesday.

A person close to Gibson said one of the main issues of the case was the Australian-American writer-director's access to his daughter. The person was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Kolodny said the agreement called for the couple's daughter to spend about half her time with Gibson.

Gibson's wife of 28 years, Robyn, cited irreconcilable differences for their split last April. That case is ongoing, but it has not generated the attention of Gibson's split with Grigorieva.

Most of that case has been handled in private, with few documents filed publicly.

Grigorieva and Gibson were frequently photographed together when their relationship became public after the actor-director's wife filed for divorce last year. Grigorieva also has a son from her relationship with British actor Timothy Dalton, who played James Bond in two films.

Last May, Gibson confirmed  to Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show" that Grigorieva was pregnant with his eighth child.

The couple's relationship represented the re-emergence of Gibson, 54, after several years of shunning the public eye. Before the release of "Edge of Darkness" this year, Gibson's last starring role in a film had been in 2002's "Signs."

He directed two films since then, the surprise blockbuster "The Passion of the Christ" in 2004 and the violent Mayan action flick "Apocalypto" in 2006.

It was in that year that Gibson was arrested and charged with drunken driving. He later apologized for making a slew of anti-Semitic remarks, saying he had battled alcoholism for all of his adult life. He complied with all the terms of the probation he was given in the case, and his conviction was expunged last year.

Gibson won an Academy Award in 1995 for directing "Braveheart," which also won that year's best picture Oscar.

He has since split time between acting and directing. This year's "Edge of Darkness" grossed an estimated $45 million at the domestic box office, very different from blockbusters of his action star heyday.

He is slated to appear next in the offbeat comedy "The Beaver," which co-stars and is directed by Gibson's longtime friend, Jodie Foster.

[Associated Press; By SANDY COHEN and ANTHONY McCARTNEY]

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