Mel Gibson And Rosalind Ross Confirm Split After 9 Years In Joint Statement

Mel Gibson and longtime partner Rosalind Ross have officially gone their separate ways after nearly a decade together. Gibson and Ross first met through mutual friends in 2014 and began dating shortly thereafter. At the time, Ross was emerging as a screenwriter, while Gibson was navigating a quieter period in his public life following years of controversy. Despite their 34-year age gap, the two quickly formed a strong connection and began dating, choosing to keep much of their relationship out of the spotlight. Ross later collaborated with Gibson professionally, writing the screenplay for "Father Stu," which Gibson starred in and produced, further strengthening both their personal and creative partnership.

The actor and director and his longtime partner quietly split about a year ago, PEOPLE confirmed. In a rare joint statement shared with the outlet, the former couple acknowledged the end of their relationship while emphasizing their continued commitment to their family.

"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.

Despite the breakup, the pair will continue to co-parent their 8-year-old son, Lars, whom they welcomed in 2017, just days before Gibson was nominated for a Best Director Academy Award for "Hacksaw Ridge."

At the time, Gibson reflected on the overlapping milestones, calling the moment unforgettable. "What could be more exciting than listening to the nominations being announced while holding my newborn son," he said in a statement.

Lars is Gibson's youngest child. The actor is also the father of eight older children from previous relationships. He shares daughter Hannah and six sons with his ex-wife, Robyn Moore, whom he divorced in 2011 after nearly three decades of marriage.

Gibson also has a 16-year-old daughter, Lucia, with songwriter and pianist Oksana Grigorieva. The two split in 2010 following a highly publicized and contentious breakup.

The news of the couple's separation comes after a difficult start to 2025. In January, Gibson and Ross lost their Malibu home during the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. Gibson was out of town working at the time, but Ross, their son, and their animals were safely evacuated.

Speaking about the loss during a January 9 appearance on NewsNation's "Elizabeth Vargas Reports," Gibson addressed the tragedy, telling listeners, "Obviously, it's kind of devastating. It's emotional. You live there for a long time, and you had all your stuff. I had my stuff there, and it's all like, I've been relieved from the burden of my stuff, because it's all in cinders."

He later stressed that material damage took a backseat to what truly mattered. "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," he said. "That's all I can care about, really."

Gibson also admitted he felt uneasy being out of town while the fires continued to spread. "I was kind of ill at ease," Gibson said, explaining that he knew his neighborhood was in danger. "I knew my neighborhood was on fire, so I thought, 'I wonder if my place is still there.'"

When he eventually returned, the reality was unavoidable. "But when I got home, sure enough, it wasn't there," Gibson shared. Despite the loss, Gibson managed to inject a bit of dark humor into the situation. "I went home, and I said to myself, 'Well, at least I haven't got any of those pesky plumbing problems anymore,'" he joked.

Gibson added that while his property was "completely toasted," there was one small silver lining. "My chickens survived, it was amazing," he said, noting that several of his neighbors, including actor Ed Harris, were also impacted by the fires.

While Gibson tends to keep his family life largely out of the spotlight, he has occasionally offered glimpses into that world. In September 2024, his two youngest children, Lucia and Lars, made a rare public appearance alongside him on the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of his film "Monster Summer."

As Gibson and Ross move forward into this next chapter, those quiet, family-centered moments appear to be what matters most, even as their relationship evolves and the spotlight shifts elsewhere.