Mel Gibson admits he slapped Oksana during fight

Mel Gibson admitted to slapping Oksana Grigorieva during the couple’s January fight that prompted a police investigation, but he denies punching her, TMZ.com reported.

Gibson, 54, said he slapped the mother of his 1-year-old child, Lucia, because she was hysterical during their argument and was endangering the baby, according to court documents filed in June in the couple’s custody fight that the website published.

“I slapped Oksana one time with an open hand ... to bring her back to reality,” he said in the statement in which he also said he never hurt baby Lucia.

Grigorieva, 40, has accused Gibson punched her, knocking out her teeth.