Melanie Brown Files Suit

By: Shannon Gossage

Brown filed the paternity action against Murphy over their four-month old daughter, Angel Iris Murphy Brown. The petition was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday to establish Murphy as the baby’s legal father. Brown is also seeking full custody of the child and is asking the court to award "reasonable child support." Brown has hired famed attorney Gloria Allred. Brown said in a statement, "I am here today for one reason and one reason only; her name is Angel. Angel is my baby and Eddie’s. She will always know that she was planned and wanted by both of us."

The petition was filed a week after Murphy announced his engagement to movie producer Tracey Edmonds. Allred claims that Murphy has yet to fork over any child support for the baby and that the petition was filed because of Murphy’s "shocking and appalling conduct since he learned Ms. Brown was pregnant." She continued, "Murphy was promising to do the right thing, but to date he has not done the right thins. Mr. Murphy can have all the babies he chooses to have, but his responsibility needs to be his own children." Allred also said, "When a star such as Murphy turns his back on his own baby, it sends an unacceptable message to other single fathers around the world. I’m telling you, Mr. Murphy, it’s all over. We’ve seen you in the movies, and now we look forward to seeing you in court."

Brown, 31, and Murphy, 46, briefly dated after his divorce from Nicole Mitchell was finalized in April 2006. They split in October and he began seeing Edmunds, the ex-wife of singer Babyface. Brown announced her pregnancy in October and Murphy challenged the claims in an interview on a Dutch television. Brown has always maintained that Murphy is the father and it was proven in June when a DNA test determined that he is the biological father of the baby. Murphy said that if he was found to be the father he would "do the right thing," and so far he has not. Murphy has five children with Mitchell. Brown has an 8-year old daughter with ex-husband Jimmy Guzlar.