It is not a good time to be Mel Gibson. The star is going through a messy split with his girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva and now he has been accused of making racist and sexist slurs against her.

US website Radaronline.com have published extracts of an audiotape that they claim contains a row between the former couple.

In the recording a man who sounds like Gibson can be heard shouting: "You're an embarrassment to me" and telling the woman that the way she is dressed makes her look like a "pig in heat". As the exchange continues, the person then uses the N-word.

Spokespeople for Gibson, his ex and Radaronline have so far not commented.

In 2006, the Passion Of The Christ filmmaker used racist remarks while he was arrested for driving while under the influence.

The Lethal Weapon star is currently going through a custody battle with his Russian former love over their daughter, Lucia, who was born last October. Grigorieva has also filed a restraining order against him and alleged that he hit her, knocking out several teeth.