Personal life

Personal life
Following her rise to fame, Brown had a long relationship with Icelandic Fjolnir Thorgeirsson and a short relationship with Australian singer Peter Andre.

While on the Spiceworld Tour, Brown began a romantic relationship with Dutch dancer Jimmy Gulzar. They married in Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, on 13 September 1998;[20] Mel B changed her stage name to 'Melanie G'. Their only child together, daughter Phoenix-Chi, was born in Westminster, London,[21] on 19 February 1999.[22] Marital problems ensued, including allegations of abusive and inattentive behaviour by Gulzar, and the marriage collapsed by the end of 1999. In 2000 Brown filed for divorce, which was finalized later that year.[23] The custody battle for her daughter was highly publicised; Brown won custody, but had to pay a large alimony settlement of £1.25M to her ex-husband.[24]

Brown's next serious relationship was with British actor Max Beesley, from whom she split in 2002. In 2003 Brown moved to Los Angeles, CA with her daughter Phoenix-Chi, stating that she planned to live there permanently. In 2006, Brown became the subject of many tabloid stories, on the basis of her relationship with Hollywood actor Eddie Murphy. Unconfirmed stories quickly came that the pair had tattoos of each other's names, were planning a wedding, and had introduced each other to their respective families. On 17 October 2006 AOL claimed that Brown was in fact having a baby by Murphy.[25] Brown was quoted as saying: "We're in love and get on really well. All the children have met and get on too - it's like a great big happy family. I can't wait to spend Christmas with him and I can't wait to have this baby."[26]

In early December 2006, news came that Brown and Murphy were no longer a couple, and Murphy told a journalist of the Dutch TV show RTL Boulevard at the Dreamgirls film premiere that the parentage of Brown's unborn baby could not be proven until a paternity test has been performed, stating: "I don't know whose child that is until it comes out and has a blood test. You shouldn't jump to conclusions, sir."[27][28] Brown gave birth to Angel Iris Murphy Brown, on 3 April 2007, which coincidentally is also Murphy's birthday. Murphy was listed as the father on the birth certificate despite the ongoing paternity battle. On 22 June 2007, People magazine reported the results of a court-ordered DNA test, confirming through Brown's publicist that Murphy was indeed the father of Brown's baby. Murphy has since admitted paternity.[29] Brown indicated her feelings about Murphy, stating: "The less said about the Beverly Hills Cock the better."[30]

In February 2007, Brown began dating long term friend and movie producer Stephen Belafonte.[31] Brown and Belafonte quietly married on 6 June 2007, in Las Vegas, Nevada.[32] They renewed their vows in a marriage ceremony in Egypt on 8 November 2008.[33]