Wednesday, 25 July 2007

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Mel B: Eddie Murphy and I planned baby and marriage

Break-up came as a complete shock to the singer

"Scary Spice" Melanie Brown says that when it came to her now-damaged relationship with Eddie Murphy, the original plan was to marry after the birth of their now 3-month-old daughter.

"This was a completely planned pregnancy," Brown, 32, says in an interview that appears on Essence.com.

"This wasn't some random, 'Oops I fell over and I'm pregnant.' I don't live my life like that," says Brown. "I'm a responsible parent and have been a responsible single parent since I got divorced" from Jimmy Gulzar, in 1999, after eight months of marriage.

Referring to Murphy, she added, "As soon as I had my IUD removed we proceeded to get pregnant. It happened quicker than we expected but it was perfect timing."

Brown gave birth to the baby, Angel Iris Murphy Brown, on April 3, and always contended that Murphy is the child's father. She and the comic had dated last summer, but in December Murphy told a Dutch TV show of the pregnant Brown: "I don't know whose child that is until it comes out and has a blood test."

DNA tests revealed in June that Murphy is indeed the child's father.

Brown says that seeing the Dutch TV clip sparked a variety of reactions. "I laughed because that wasn't the guy that I knew who told me he wanted to have a baby and get married," she says. "I just didn't believe it. When I saw it my heart dropped down to my gut."

In the end, though, Brown says she wasn't sure if her and Murphy's lifestyles would have meshed.

"There were certain things that went on in his house with his lifestyle that I wasn't prepared to be a part of," she says. "I have a baby with this guy so I have to be somewhat respectful. I'll simply say that there were lifestyle changes that he would have to make if we were going to live together and do it properly."

Comparing her life to his, she adds, "I have a house where it's about my kids and me. I don't have people knocking on my door at 3 and 4 in the morning."

According to Essence.com, Murphy's reps said only that they "do not comment on Mr. Murphy's personal life."