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Home / Entertainment

Mel Gibson's alleged 'other woman' confirms 'union'

Herald online
16 Apr, 2009 12:47 AM4 mins to read

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Mel Gibson's divorce could be the most expensive in Hollywood history. Photo / Getty Images

Mel Gibson's divorce could be the most expensive in Hollywood history. Photo / Getty Images

The mystery woman allegedly romantically involved with soon-to-be-divorced star

Mel Gibson

has come forward - both of them.

Hours after news broke that the Hollywood star's 28-year marriage to wife Robyn was kaput and that

divorce bells were ringing

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, chatter emerged that Gibson was allegedly involved in a romantic relationship with a woman known only as

Oksana

.

Scandal sheet

Radaronline.com

published photos of what appeared to be Gibson frolicking in the surf on a Costa Rican beach with a "raven-haired Russian musician" named Oksana on March 4.

Russian dolls

Case solved. Apparently not. Oksana (full name Oksana Kolesnikova), a Russian singer, has reportedly crawled out of the woodwork and denied that she's emotionally involved with the actor, but admitted "entertaining Mr Gibson with her piano music".

A publicist for Oksana told TMZ.com, "Sorry to hear about Mel Gibson's divorce. Somehow Oksana is being linked to Mr. Gibson, but there are no emotional ties between the two that I am aware of. Oksana has in the past entertained Mr. Gibson with her piano music as he dined at the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

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"Yes, I definitely welcome the opportunity to set the record straight, our Oksana is not romantically involved with Mr. Gibson," said the unnamed publicist.

Oksana, believed to be married, also said, "I have no idea how this mistake has been made. I feel very upset.

"The only explanation is that the names Oksana have been confused. It is a very popular name in Russia."

The plot thickens.

Mel's belles

Step up suspect number two, another Russian singer called Oksana.

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Oksana Pochepa

, 24, to be exact. She tells British tabloids that

she's

the mystery woman frolicking on the beach with our Mel in those candid snaps.

She tells the

Sun

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that her alleged relationship with Gibson is "serious".

"I don't know how long it will last, as we are different people. But Mel is a grown man and knows precisely what he wants.

"This is serious and I hope our union will be real and strong and long-lasting."

She added to the newspaper: "I would not like to say more right now."

This Oksana, who is also a model, also claims to have visited Gibson on the set of a movie he was shooting in Boston last year, but says they weren't ready to go public with their alleged love.

Us Weekly

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reports that Gibson and Pochepa met last August when she was hired to compose a song for Gibson's upcoming thriller

Edge of Darkness

.

But doubt has already been cast on blonde Pochepa's claims. The woman snapped with Gibson on the Costa Rican beach is

clearly a brunette

.

Meanwhile, another report claims that after his wife Robyn filed for divorce last week, citing irreconcilable differences, Gibson has

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fled to Costa Rica with a mystery blonde.

A snitch spotted the star after he reportedly travelled by helicopter to his $26-million Costa Rican ranch, sporting "long, tousled hair, a half-buttoned shirt and tan shorts and carrying a pair of orange Crocs". Fashion faux pas. Guilty as charged. Oh, the

mystery blonde

was there, too.

The snitch said, "Mel was laughing and joking. He did not look at all worried or concerned. You would never have guessed he is going through what could be a very expensive divorce."

Confused? So are we.

At this rate any woman Gibson has come into contact with is likely to be blamed for his marriage breakdown.

Whatever's going on behind the curtains, suffice to say that the smirching has done little to unblemish the actor's soiled profile.

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Money, money, money

The Gibsons' split could end up being the costliest yet. It's widely speculated that the pair never signed a pre-nup, and under Californian law this means that Robyn is entitled to half of everything - including his reported $900 million fortune.

Other reports suggest that the pair will remain married until October, even after signing a settlement. Californian law usually imposes a six-month cooling-off period on divorce.

The pair released a statement on Monday saying, "Throughout our marriage and separation we have always strived to maintain the privacy and integrity of our family and will continue to do so."

Both listed "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for their split.

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Pictured: Mel Gibson and, inset, a youthful Mel...just because. Photos / Getty Images

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