Mel Gibson has claimed that the tapes which allegedly document him attacking Oksana Grigorieva were "edited."

The Braveheart actor pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor battery charge last month after a physical altercation with his ex-girlfriend in January 2010.

But he explained that while the tapes show "one terribly awful moment in time," they are not representative of the manner he has conducted himself throughout his life.

He said: "Who anticipates being recorded? Who anticipates that? Who could anticipate such a personal betrayal?

"They were edited.

"I never treated anyone badly or in a discriminatory way based on their gender, race, religion or sexuality—period.

"You have to put it all in the proper context of being in an irrationally, heated discussion at the height of a breakdown, trying to get out of a really unhealthy relationship.

"It's one terribly, awful moment in time, said to one person, in the span of one day, and doesn't represent what I truly believe or how I've treated people my entire life."

The 55-year-old star—who has an 18-month-old daughter, Lucia, with Oksana—admitted that while he could have carried the case on and maintained his innocence, but he didn't want to drag his family "through the sewer."

Speaking to Deadline.com, he added: "I could have continued to fight this for years and it probably would have come out fine.

"But I ended it for my children and my family.

"This was going to be such a circus.

"You don't drag other people in your life through this sewer needlessly, so I'll take the hit and move on."