(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Oksana Grigorieva craves the limelight and wanted Mel Gibson to further her career, the actors publicist has reportedly claimed.

The Russian singer and Mel, who have 12-month-old daughter Lucia together, split up in April and she has since filed a restraining order against him, despite an initially amicable separation.

Oksana alleged the 54-year-old Hollywood star become unreasonably angry with her during an argument in January. She claimed he punched her in the face, breaking her teeth, although he has denied it.

A number of recordings of the incident made by Oksana have been leaked online, and apparently show Mel using violent, racist and abusive language towards her. She has previously admitted being terrified of the star during the incident, and was convinced he would kill her.

However, Mels publicist Alan Nierob has reportedly said in a declaration in the pairs custody battle for Lucia that Oksana was publicity-hungry and did everything to push herself into the foreground.

In my opinion she enjoyed press events more than most of my clients' spouses and significant others, TMZ reports him as saying.

Alan also claims that 40-year-old Oksana was friendly with Mel in the aftermath of their famous argument. He suggests that Oksana was comfortable to be around the actor at a dinner on January 27, and was joking, laughing and extremely happy.

"On a multitude of other occasions, Miss Grigorieva commented to me that she believed Mr. Gibson was a great' father to Lucia," Alan is said to have added.

The custody case over Lucia continues in Los Angeles. (C) Cover Media