Another Mel Gibson tape? Say it ain't so, Joe Eszterhas

The newly minted Mel Gibson-Joe Eszterhas war of words is starting to sound familiar: The screenwriter now says there's a tape that proves his side of the story. 

"He should be very careful calling me a liar," Eszterhas told TheWrap on Thursday, explaining that his 15-year-old son, Nick, had made a tape of some statements and actions by Gibson that were described in the "personal and confidential" nine-page letter written to his former collaborator earlier this week.

That letter went public Wednesday via TheWrap, shortly after Warner Bros. announced it had put a hold on "The Maccabees," a project envisioned as "a Jewish 'Braveheart'" to be produced and possibly directed by Gibson and written by Eszterhas.

(The studio said Wednesday that it was not ready to work with the current script. Eszterhas said in the letter that he found out in mid-March the studio was rejecting the script he'd submitted to Gibson in February; he said Gibson never contacted him after the rejection to discuss the project, causing him to conclude the actor "never had ... any intention" of making the film, and had merely announced it in an attempt to rehab his career and reputation. Gibson has said he's been working on the project for 10 years.)

The "Basic Instinct" writer's letter, full of profanity and vulgarity, depicts Gibson as a man out of control, cursing at houseguests, staff and even clergy in Costa Rica and in Malibu and spewing anti-Semitic slurs and concepts -- not to mention ranting about ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva during their custody clash and threatening to have her killed.

Much like notorious tapes of Gibson ranting at Grigorieva, which were recorded on one day but released over several days without context, the letter gives an impression of nonstop belligerance -- something Ezsterhas addressed Thursday.

Mel Gibson settlement: Oksana gets $750,000, not $15 million

Mel Gibson and Oksana Grigorieva have reached a settlement in their custody case, with details released by the court Wednesday.

Long story short: She gets $750,000 and a house to live in until their daughter Lucia is 18. That's a far cry from the $15-million settlement she walked away from early last summer, claiming she'd agreed to it under duress.

Gibson spoke briefly in court,thanking the judge for bringing the case to a "reasonable conclusion," L.A. Now reported. The court had announced Friday that a deal was done.

Grigorieva's lawyers had sought $20 million from ex-boyfriend and baby daddy Gibson. In early May, shortly before the mediation that brought them to the $15-million offer, she sent him an email referencing her secret recordings of his angry, profane rants from Feb. 18, 2010.

The first of those tapes -- they were chopped into six parts for release -- was leaked to the public July 9 of last year. The sixth tape finally dropped 11 days later, by which time Gibson's attorney was presenting authorities with evidence of alleged extortion; he was already being investigated on suspicion of domestic violence. In the sixth tape, Grigorieva referenced their failed settlement agreement, which reportedly would have prevented her from seeking more money from him in the future.

Gibson pleaded no contest this March to a misdemeanor domestic abuse charge, though he has maintained his innocence. The charge resulted from a Jan. 6, 2010, dispute between the two in which she alleged he hit her and broke a veneer on her teeth. Gibson later admitted striking her but said he was trying to get her to stop shaking Lucia as the couple argued.

An extortion investigation resulted in no charges being filed against Grigorieva.

In addition to getting the cash, Grigorieva can live in the Sherman Oaks home Gibson bought for her and his daughter until Lucia turns 18, according to L.A. Now. At that time, the house will be sold and the money placed in a trust for Lucia. The $750,000 will be paid in three installments.

The former couple will have joint legal custody, and both Gibson and Grigorieva are barred from writing books about their relationship.

Thoughts? Share them in comments.

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-- Christie D'Zurilla
Twitter.com/dzurillaville

Photos: Oksana Grigorieva and Mel Gibson in Los Angeles Superior Court on Aug. 31, 2011. Credit: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images.

Betty White voted America's 'most trusted' celebrity

Betty White has been voted America's favorite and most trusted celebrity, a new poll indicates.

White, the former "Golden Girls" funnywoman who is currently starring in TV Land's "Hot in Cleveland," beat out Paris Hilton and Charlie Sheen as the person "whose endorsement of a company would be most likely to drive business," according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll of 2,012 Americans.

And she didn't have to go to the Marine Corps birthday ball to do it.

The 89-year-old animal lover won an Emmy last year for her "Saturday Night Live" hosting gig, has appeared on "Community" and in Snickers commercials and was named Associated Press entertainer of the year last December. Perhaps that trustworthy face of hers could help do some damage this fall on her "Punk'd"-style prank show "Betty White's Off Their Rockers"?

The other most favorable celebrities behind White are Denzel Washington, Sandra Bullock, Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks, Harrison Ford, Morgan Freeman (who tied for seventh place with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge), Will Smith and Johnny Depp.

Topping the not-so-hot list are: Paris Hilton, Charlie Sheen, Britney Spears (who ties for third with Kanye West), Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tiger Woods, Kim Kardashian, Mel Gibson, Donald Trump and LeBron James.

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-- Nardine Saad
Twitter.com/NardineSaad

Photo: Betty White in June 2011. Credit: Christopher Polk / Getty Images

Mel Gibson reaches a divorce settlement with Robyn Moore

Mel Gibson and estranged wife Robyn Moore have nailed down details in their long-running divorce case, slamming the door on those romantics who may have held out hope that post-Oksana Grigorieva, the parents of seven — wait, he's a parent of eight — might reconcile.

OK, "those romantics" were no doubt few and far between — especially given recent reports that Mel, 55, has a new "friendly acquaintance," Stella Mouzi, a 25-year-old fetish model who hails from Greece. (Have a type much, Braveheart?)

Attorneys told an L.A. judge Tuesday that Robyn and Mel had finally worked out a settlement regarding division of property and other assets valued at $900 million before the real estate crash, though no details were released. The divorce is expected to be finalized in August.

After 28 years of marriage, Robyn filed for divorce in April 2009, right about the time news broke that Grigorieva was pregnant with Mel's baby (Lucia was born that November). Mel said at the time that his marriage had effectively ended three years earlier.

Mel and Oksana subsequently ended their relationship quietly, with a breakup that began in April 2010, went through a few rough spots, and then calmly drew to a close in March when he entered a no-contest plea to misdemeanor battery and she learned that extortion charges against her would not be pursued.

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— Christie D'Zurilla

Reuters contributed to this report.

Photo: Fans surround Mel Gibson as he arrives for a visit at the San Juan de Dios hospital in Guatemala City, Guatemala, on June 8. Credit: Saul Martinez / European Pressphoto Agency.

Mel Gibson finally talks about the Oksana tapes, and the future

Mel Gibson, who's been essentially mum since tapes of him ranting at Oksana Grigorieva were leaked last summer, has finally broken his silence, referring to the recordings as "one terribly awful moment in time, said to one person, in the span of one day," and something that "doesn't represent what I truly believe or how I've treated people my entire life."

He also said he didn't care if he ever acted again.

In the Deadline Hollywood interview, coming as the May release of "The Beaver" looms, Gibson expressed regret and anger at himself but also held his ground about what people heard.

"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," he said.

The tapes, dramatically released one by one over the span of more than a week last July, eventually were revealed as having come from one day's continuing argument. He told Deadline that the tapes had been edited.

"You find out who your friends are," Gibson said, including Whoopi Goldberg ("I knew Whoopi before she was Whoopi. ... I like her even more now, because she got it.") and "The Beaver" director Jodie Foster ("I'd give her a pedicure every day of the week if I could."), both of whom spoke out on his behalf.

But he said he's not bothered by the short list of public defenders. "Why would anyone want to speak publicly and drag themselves through this crap?" he noted. "It seems to add fuel to the fire."

Fans who hope to see Gibson on screen down the line can breathe easier -- while the phrases "move on" and "let it go" peppered his reaction to being awkwardly let go from "The Hangover II," he was enthusiastic about his upcoming project with "Braveheart" screenwriter Randy Wallace, in which he's "not the main guy."

Mel Gibson turns himself in, is fingerprinted and booked

Mel Gibson turned himself in to El Segundo Police Wednesday night for his misdemeanor battery conviction.

The embattled actor, whose new film "The Beaver" premiered at South By Southwest in Austin the same night, was fingerprinted and booked at 9:30 p.m.

The booking record listed Gibson as 5-feet-10 and 190 pounds, according to L.A. Now. His mug shot was also taken as a requirement of his probation.

Gibson, 55, entered a no contest plea Friday to the criminal charges brought by the Los Angeles district attorney against Gibson for the alleged battery of his then-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva. He was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to complete domestic violence counseling and mental health counseling.

He also must complete 16 hours of community service, pay nominal fines and obey the terms of an order of protection that prevents him from annoying, threatening or using force or violence against anyone involved in the case.

The Oscar winner had been charged after the Jan. 6 altercation in which Grigorieva said Gibson hit her while she was holding their child, Lucia. The incident sparked the now infamous leaked tapes of Gibson railing against the Russian signer.

The couple broke up in April  2010, with Grigorieva on June 19 alluding to a scandal that was about to break regarding their split.

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-- Nardine Saad
Twitter.com/NardineSaad

Photo: Mel Gibson's booking photo. Credit: El Segundo Police Department

Mel Gibson pleads no contest; Oksana Grigorieva off the hook [Poll]

Mel Gibson entered a no contest plea in L.A. Superior Court Friday, shortly after the district attorney's office charged him with one misdemeanor count of battery against ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva.

To end a drama that went public shortly after the couple broke up last April, Gibson will be on informal probation for 36 months but will serve no jail time -- the one-year sentence for battery on a spouse, cohabitant or parent of a child was suspended.

Grigorieva, who had been present throughout depositions and more, was neither identified by name in court nor appeared at the hearing, held at the Airport Courthouse. The district attorney's office also announced Friday it would not charge her with attempted extortion, citing insufficient evidence turned up in the investigation.

The Oscar winner also was ordered to continue mental-health counseling for 52 weeks, complete a 52-week domestic violence course, do 16 hours of community service and pay some nominal fines. He also must obey the terms of an order of protection preventing him from annoying, threatening or using force or violence against anyone involved in the case.

All of this was related, of course, to that Jan. 6 altercation in which his ex-girlfriend said he hit her while she was holding their child Lucia -- and to the infamous tapes of Gibson ranting at Grigorieva.

The couple broke up in April 2010, with the Russian singer on June 19 alluding to a scandal that was about to break regarding their split.

Mel Gibson plea expected — for the kids' sake [Poll]

This post has been corrected. See the note below for details.

Good news for those who wondered if the Mel Gibson-Oksana Grigorieva drama would ever come to an end: The actor is expected to plead guilty or no contest this week to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge that would slap him with counseling but no jail time, L.A. Now said Wednesday.

Why now? For the sake of his kids, his attorney Blair Berk said in a statement, and to slam the brakes on the "enormous media circus" that would continue to surround the situation. Gibson has been under investigation for months on allegations of domestic violence involving a Jan. 6 altercation in which Grigorieva alleged he hit her while she was holding their child.

"Mel's priority throughout all of this has been that the best interests of his young daughter Lucia and the rest of his children be put first in any decisions made," Berk said. "It is with only that in mind that he asked me to approach the district attorney with a proposal that would bring all of this to an immediate end."

Much dirty laundry has already been aired, including the explosive tapes of a ranting Gibson that went public in July as well as revealing e-mails and text messages that later shed light on secret negotiations that failed to keep the tapes under wraps. More of the same was likely to have come out in a prolonged court battle, which Gibson apparently decided against fighting.

Mel Gibson domestic-violence decision still up in the air

Whether Mel Gibson will face criminal charges of domestic violence is still up in the air, with the L.A. district attorney's office on Wednesday pretty much saying, "Believe it when you hear it from us."

Gibson has been under investigation for months on allegations of domestic violence involving ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, who said the actor hit her while she was holding their child. Simultaneously, authorities have been investigating whether there was a related extortion attempt against Gibson. And, yeah, there were those tapes.

"Allegations of domestic violence involving Mel Gibson are actively under review by the district attorney's office," L.A. County D.A. Steve Cooley said in a statement, reported by L.A. Now.

"Information received will be taken into account in deciding whether or not to file charges. Any decisions made by the D.A.'s office in this case will be made public in a timely manner."

Radar Online had reported Tuesday that prosecutors were "ready to file criminal charges" against the actor after a two-hour meeting between Gibson's lawyer and a deputy district attorney.

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Photo: Mel Gibson in February 2010. Credit: Francois Mori / Associated Press

 

Mel Gibson and Oksana Grigorieva: Custody showdown in family court

Mel Gibson and Oksana Grigorieva were in the same Los Angeles courtroom Monday as Gibson petitioned for full custody of daughter Lucia, with no overnight stays and only supervised visits  between mother and daughter.

Among the witnesses TMZ spotted outside the closed courtroom waiting to take the stand at the hearing, which was expected to go all day: Oksana's mom, Lyudmila Chernukha, working with an interpreter.

Chernukha has spoken up on her daughter's behalf before, telling People in May 2009 that Oksana had nothing to do with Mel's split from wife Robyn Gibson, and refusing to confirm reports that her daughter was pregnant.

(The singer adopted her current last name after performing under other stage names, according to a 1997 Daily Mail story written when she was pregnant with boyfriend Timothy Dalton's child. At that time, mom said, "I do worry about her. I sometimes wish Oksana would marry a modest teacher here in Russia and not such a celebrity." Though Grigorieva has been married twice, she did not marry either of the celebrities with whom she had children.)