Gibson ex: 'Mel is not violent or racist'

Mel Gibson's alleged mistress has hit out at claims that the Oscar-winning actor is racist.

Violet Kowal, a former lover of the Braveheart star, claimed that recordings of the 55-year-old using racially insensitive language during a clash with ex Oksana Grigorieva were not a reflection of his true character.

She told TMZ: "Violent, racist, anti-Semitic... are you serious? When I was around Mel, he never once made any racist or derogatory comments about anyone.

"The people who are close to him knows better than anyone... He was very kind to me, my friends and family whom are all from different walks of life."

Kowal further stated her belief that Gibson will be forgiven for his infamous outbursts and a subsequent misdemeanour battery case stemming from his altercation with Grigorieva.

She said: "[Gibson] will recover from this incident and prove that those tapes does not reflect on who he really is."

Despite defending Gibson and his behaviour, Kowal previously described her ex-lover as "angry and aggressive".

Gibson this week broke his silence over the scandalous tapes and described the offending argument with Grigorieva as "one terribly awful moment in time".