Former Spice Girl Melanie Brown insists ex-boyfriend Eddie Murphy is the father of the baby she's carrying and says she can't imagine why he would publicly question the child's paternity.


Melanie Brown, who is in the second trimester of her pregnancy, said:

I am obviously upset and distressed at some of the comments made by Eddie Murphy to the media,

I have no idea why anybody would want to conduct themselves in this kind of manner about such a personal matter in such a public way.

My main concern is for the well being of my (seven-year-old) daughter Phoenix and of course the baby. I was astonished at what Eddie said – there is absolutely no question that Eddie is the father.

Melanie Brown, 31, was on a plane from England to Los Angeles on Monday when an interview with Eddie Murphy aired on the Dutch TV show RTL Boulevard.


Eddie Murphy said:

We're not together anymore,

And I don't know whose child that is, until it comes out and has a blood test. You shouldn't jump to conclusions, sir.

Melanie Brown was briefly married to dancer Jimmy Gulzar, with whom she had Phoenix in 1999. She has lived in Los Angeles for the past few years and worked on launching a solo singing career – but British reports indicate that the Spice Girls may reform next year for a concert that is being planned by Princes William and Harry in memory of their mother, Princess Diana.


Eddie Murphy and Melanie Brown began dating over the summer after his Murphy's April divorce from his wife of 12 years, Nicole Mitchell.