Mel Gibson: "Messages Of Support Gratefully Received"

Embattled actor Mel Gibson has reportedly sent a text message to his closest pals, pleading for their support.

As RadarOnline.com revealed in a world exclusive, Gibson was taped in a series of profane and racist rants during a telephone confrontation with the mother of his illegitimate child.

The 54-year-old is currently under investigation for domestic violence against Oksana Grigorieva, after being caught on tape admitting he assaulted her, because she “f**king deserved it”.

Now a new report says the Oscar-winning actor/director sent a round-robin text message to a select group of his Hollywood friends over the weekend, announcing that 'for obvious reasons' he had changed his mobile phone number.

Gibson signed off the message, 'Any messages of support gratefully received.'

The Australian actor is yet to publicly acknowledge any wrongdoing as a result of the tapes, in which he is heard telling Grigorieva: “I am going to come and burn the f***ing house down.”

In other rants, Gibson is heard suggesting Grigorieva looked “like a f***ing pig in heat” who could get “raped by a pack of n******” because of what she is wearing.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: See The First Photos of Mel and Oksana In a Passionate Embrace On The Beach

He also refers to a Latino staffer as a “wetback”.