Mel Gibson and Rosalind Ross Announce Separation

Actor and director Mel Gibson and screenwriter Rosalind Ross have separated after nine years together, the couple announced in a joint statement on Tuesday. The pair, who began dating in 2014 after meeting through mutual friends, quietly ended their relationship about a year ago but chose to disclose the news publicly now. They share an 8-year-old son, Lars, and emphasized their commitment to co-parenting him.

"Although it's sad to end this chapter in our lives, we are blessed with a beautiful son and will continue to be the best parents possible," Gibson and Ross said in the statement provided to People magazine. The 69-year-old Oscar winner and the 35-year-old Ross, a former equestrian vaulter who has directed films, were never married. Their son was born in January 2017, shortly before Gibson received an Academy Award nomination for Best Director for Hacksaw Ridge.

Gibson has spoken candidly about the challenges of fatherhood over the years. In a 2016 interview, he acknowledged that no parent is perfect. "As a parent, everybody screws up," he said. "There's no such thing as a perfect parent and it's so easy to mess up. But hopefully I've screwed up less than most." The...