Saucy star Dita Von Teese on Monday began suing her former landlord, claiming he subjected her to a "Mel Gibson-like anti-Semitic" attack, entertainment news website TMZ reported.

The burlesque artist, who is American-born of Armenian heritage, accused Lallubhai Patel of launching vicious tirades after she said she was moving out and tried to get back her $5,000 deposit.

In a lawsuit in the LA County Superior Court and cited by Courthouse News Service, Von Teese said Patel "repeatedly went on Mel Gibson-like Anti-Semitic tangents, personally attacking [Von Teese's] Jewish managers and business partners" who approached him for the money.

The suit is referring to embattled Hollywood star Gibson's alleged anti-Semitism -- which infamously came to light when he busted by police for drunk driving in 2006. He later apologized.

She also alleges Patel wrote to her, warning her to be "aware of Jews. In your business no one can do anything without them. Just a reminder to be cautious" and "Jews they have shucks [sic] the whole world and still more to come."

Von Teese, who splits her time between Paris and Hollywood, moved out over a dispute about accounting of repairs to the property.

She is seeking unspecified damages for civil rights violations.