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.


Brown says in the statement released Thursday

"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."

Mel was on a plane from England to Los Angeles on Monday when an interview with Murphy aired on the Dutch TV show RTL Boulevard. In the interview, Murphy was asked about Brown and her pregnancy and 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."

Brown only learned that her relationship with Murphy had ended when she landed in Los Angeles and received voicemails from friends telling her about the TV interview, a source close to her tells PEOPLE.


That same night, at the New York City premiere of his movie Dreamgirls, Murphy stepped out with his new girlfriend, Tracey Edmonds. Edmonds told PEOPLE they'd been dating for "about a month and a half."


Wow dosen't he sound like a catch girls, can't be bothered to let his pregnant girlfriend know that they are over before he starts taking out his new girlfriend!