Gary Oldman's son has defended his father against historical allegations of domestic abuse.

In a statement released to several publishers, Gulliver Oldman rebuked recently resurfaced claims that his father beat his mother, former model Donya Fiorentino, in 2003.

The 20-year-old wrote: "It has been troubling and painful to see that these false allegations against my father being written about again, especially after this was all settled years ago.

"There is good reason that these specific articles and accusations subsided years ago. In my eyes it is disgusting that so-called 'journalists' have seen fit to spread and perpetuate the lie."

Gulliver's open letter comes after the Daily Mail resurfaced an old interview with Fiorentino, where she described her time with Oldman as a "nightmare".

After the actor picked up the Oscar last week for his portrayal of Winston Churchill, Fiorentino again mentioned the accusations, congratulating the Academy "for awarding not one but two abusers" – a reference to basketball player Kobe Bryant, who was arrested on suspicion of raping a teenage hotel worker in 2003.

Bryant, who won the Oscar for best animated short, admitted to a sexual encounter but insisted it was consensual. The criminal case was dropped when the accuser refused to testify, and a civil suit was settled out of court with no admission of guilt by the NBA star.

Image:Oldman with sons Gulliver (left), Charlie (right) and wife Gisele Schmidt

Defending his father, Gulliver Oldman added: "I have grown up in the world we are accustomed to now, where people are guilty until proven innocent.

"It's a shame to see that 'clickbait journalism' or judgement by headline, is designed to make one jump to conclusions without receiving the full range of facts that may be detailed in a piece, whether it be online or otherwise.

"In the case of my father, there is only innocence. There never has been any guilt.

"Custody of children is not given to a wife beater, and under most circumstances, hardly ever a man. My having lived full time with my father should be in itself proof enough."

He said that his father is "my one and true guiding light" and the man he "aspires to be", adding: "If it appears that publicly speaking ill of my mother is something I am either fond of, or accustomed to, that is not the case.

More from Gary Oldman

"She has been a sad and very troubled person most of her life. Yes, she brought me into this world. She didn't however, teach me how to be a part of it."

Sky News has reached out to Gary Oldman's representatives for comment.

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