Batman star Christian Bale asked for privacy Thursday in his first comments since allegations he assaulted his mother and sister at a London hotel, saying the incident was a "deeply personal matter."

The Welsh-born actor brushed off questions about the alleged family dispute, saying he preferred to focus on the blockbuster movie "The Dark Knight" which opened in Spain on Wednesday.

"It's a deeply personal matter," Bale told a press conference at a luxury hotel in this northern Spanish city. "I would ask you to respect my privacy in the matter."