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Melanie "Mel B" Brown and ex-boyfriend/baby daddy Eddie Murphy aren't exactly the best of friends -- but there's nothing like a Shrek movie to bring families together. In a surprising show of harmony, former Spice Girl Mel B turned up to support Murphy at the L.A. premiere of his new film, Shrek Forever After. Brown walked the green carpet accompanied by her two daughters, Phoenix Chi, 11, and Angel Iris, 3, as well as stepdaughter Giselle, 6. Murphy, who voices the character Donkey in the Shrek franchise, was photographed at the premiere with several of his 7 children from previous relationships -- but not with Angel Iris, the daughter whose paternity he denied for months after her birth. Still, BBC News reports that the two families were very friendly, chatting and hugging.
How did this change of heart occur? Murphy, after all, committed a fairly unforgivable offense: saying that Brown's daughter wasn't his, even though a paternity test proved otherwise and (according to Brown) the couple had planned the pregnancy together. (Brown, who already had one child from another marriage, has since married producer Stephen Belafonte, who has two children from previous marriages.) As recently as February, Brown told the press that Murphy had zero involvement in their daughter's life: "I have full custody of Angel, and that’s about it. He doesn’t want to see her."
But while promoting the final Shrek film this spring, Murphy talked a great deal about his kids -- and apparently, decided it was time to walk the walk. Murphy met his daughter for the first time at her third birthday party in early May. His reconciliation with Brown was fostered by Murphy's ex wife Nicole Mitchell, who wanted her five children to grow up knowing their half-sister.
We applaud Murphy and Brown for putting their daughter's needs first -- especially Brown, who would certainly be within her rights to never speak to her ex again. The fact that she attended a movie where Murphy plays a donkey, and managed to refrain from making any jackass jokes, is a feat of truly amazing proportions.
Plus:
- PHOTOS: They Moved On! 10 Strong Women After Breakup
Do you think Eddie Murphy should be part of his daughter's life after 3 years? Chime in below!
