Mel Gibson, 69, confirms split from 35-year-old partner and mother of his ninth child

Lethal Weapon star Mel Gibson and his partner of nine years, Rosalind Ross, have revealed they decided to go their separate ways about a year ago, having kept the news quiet until now.

Gibson, 69, and Ross, 35, began dating after they met through mutual friends in 2014, and three years later, they welcomed a son, Lars, who is Gibson's ninth child and Ross' first.

The couple continue to co-parent Lars, who is now eight years old, however they confirmed to People on December 30 that they are no longer in a relationship.

In a joint statement, they said: "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."

It's unclear exactly when the pair decided to split or what their reason was for going their separate ways.

Gibson, who is 34 years older than Ross, spoke to The Mirror about their difference in age in 2016, when he was 60, and she was 26.

Gibson is a father to nine children with three different mothers (Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)

"Regarding age and relationships, it's just a number," the actor said at the time.

"She is an adult, and we dig each other. It might cause a problem, and one has a trepidation about these things, but it's working out great. She is a really special person."

Ross is a screenwriter and film director, and in 2022, she directed Gibson in the starring role for her movie Father Stu, which she also wrote.

The film also featured Mark Wahlberg, Jacki Weaver and Teresa Ruiz.

The news of the couple's split comes after Gibson and Ross lost their home in Malibu earlier this year, as fires tore through Los Angeles while Gibson was working out of town.

Thankfully, his family and the animals at the property were able to safely evacuate.

Gibson and Ross will co-parent their child (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

In a statement to NewsNation on January 9, Gibson said: "The good news is that those in my family and those I love are all well, and we're all happy and healthy and out of harm's way, that's all I can care about, really."

Prior to his relationship with Ross, Gibson was married to Robyn Denise Moore for 26 years, during which time they welcomed seven children together; Hannah, Christian, Edward, William, Louis, Milo, and Thomas, before they split in 2006.

He became a father again in 2009, when he welcomed a daughter, Lucia, with his then-girlfriend, Russian singer-songwriter Oksana Grigorieva, whom he dated from 2007 to 2010.