Scary Spice seeks support for child

Scary Spice went to court Wednesday to try to scare some child support from Eddie Murphy. The 32-year-old singer, whose real name is Melanie Brown, filed a petition in Superior Court in Los Angeles that seeks to legally establish Murphy as the father of her 4-month-old daughter, Angel Iris Murphy Brown. Brown will also seek sole custody and reasonable child support, attorney Gloria Allred said at a press conference. "I am here today for one reason and one reason only; her name is Angel," Brown said. "Angel is my baby and Eddie's. She will always know that she was planned and wanted by both of us." Arnold Robinson, a spokesman for the 46-year-old actor, declined comment. "We just don't comment on Eddie Murphy's personal life," he said. Allred said Murphy took a DNA test in June. The test "established paternity but paternity has not been legally acknowledged," she said in a statement. Murphy has shown "shocking and appalling" conduct since the test, the statement said. Brown, who dated Murphy last year, gave birth to her daughter April 3. She listed Murphy as the father on the birth certificate. Murphy has five children from his marriage to Nicole Mitchell Murphy, who filed for divorce in 2005. Brown also has an 8-year-old daughter. The Spice Girls recently reunited for a tour that is scheduled to begin later this year.

A court ruling has taken a bite out of DMX for failing to fulfill a contract to promote a clothing line for dogs including caps, scarves, raincoats and bomber jackets. The 36-year-old rapper, whose real name is Earl Simmons, was ordered to pay a $242,000 judgment to Amusing Diversions Inc., a company that produced and marketed the canine clothing line, named for his dog, Boomer 129. "DMX, it appears, is known for his growl and bark and is called Pit Bull (which according to the evidence ... he has tattooed on his back)," noted Manhattan state Supreme Court Justice Jane Goodman's ruling, announced Tuesday. His longtime lawyer, Murray Richman, said he hadn't heard of the case and it was possible Simmons didn't have an attorney working on it. He said Simmons couldn't be reached for comment. The business relationship got off to a good start but turned sour after Simmons failed to promote the merchandise on TV, at concerts and other public events as called for by the contract, and also publicized competitors, causing substantial damages to the plaintiff, the court said. In the July 25 ruling, the court said Simmons had repeatedly ignored court proceedings and orders and that his attorney had been excused at the rapper's request. Simmons' albums include "It's Dark and Hell Is Hot" and "Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood."

Jackie Chan's new action comedy, "Rush Hour 3," won't be shown in China. "We think the market for the movie is relatively weak," Xiao Ping, a vice president at state-run China Film Group's import and export arm, said Tuesday. The Chinese government carefully screens foreign media content and allows only about 20 foreign films a year to be shown. Ping said "Rush Hour 3" was up against some tough competition.China has already imported several Hollywood blockbusters, including "Transformers," "Spider-Man 3" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End." But Hollywood trade publication Variety reported on its Asian Web site Tuesday that Chinese officials believe "Rush Hour 3," which stars Chan and Chris Tucker as buddy cops taking on a Chinese crime family in Paris, is "fundamentally anti-Chinese." Xiao said she didn't know whether film executives were concerned about scenes of Chinese gangsters. New Line Cinema said it had no comment. Chan, 53, and Tucker, 34, have co-starred in all three "Rush Hour" movies. The trilogy, directed by Brett Ratner, began in 1998. The loss of the China market isn't a major blow to filmmakers. Chinese box-office income remains much smaller than in the U.S. A movie that makes tens of millions of U.S. dollars in China can be considered a hit, while U.S. box office winners can make hundreds of millions. Film piracy is widespread in China, so residents are unlikely to have any problem seeing "Rush Hour 3." The movie is set for release in the U.S. on Aug. 10.

With his marriage to Britney Spears officially over, Kevin Federline is focused on giving their two young sons a secure upbringing outside the media glare so they can "pretend they're like everyone else," his lawyer said. The couple's divorce was made official Monday. In an interview, Federline attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan said Tuesday his client will shun the spotlight when he cares for the children under a custody agreement. "When they are with him, he is going to shield his children from unwanted media attention," Kaplan said. "You will not find a picture of Kevin parading with the children out in a public place. "He's focused right now on being the best parent that he can be," the attorney added. Kaplan, who specializes in celebrity family law cases, refused to disclose the custody arrangement or other details in the divorce. Since February, Spears, 25, and Federline, 29, have shared joint custody of their two sons, 22-month-old Sean Preston and 10-month-old Jayden James. Federline also has two children with former girlfriend Shar Jackson. However, Kaplan said Federline's life as a celebrity father comes with different demands than many other fathers face, including huge expenses. When they go out, Kaplan said, there must be a nanny and security guards. "There are people you have to pay so your kids can pretend they're like everyone else," said Kaplan. "When you are a celebrity parent, there are financial dynamics that others not familiar with it can't understand." Spears and Federline wed in October 2004, eight months after her first marriage to childhood friend Jason Alexander was annulled. The pop star cited irreconcilable differences when she filed for divorce from Federline on Nov. 7, 2006. Kaplan said Federline wouldn't comment on Spears' public behavior. Most recently, she's been accused of threatening paparazzi outside a Las Vegas spa. Asked if things might have been better for their sons if they had made a go of it together, Kaplan sighed. "In a perfect world, maybe that would be true," he said. "I've seen so many marriages end on that question. But in a perfect world, there are no lawyers."

Former child star Gary Coleman was cited for disorderly conduct after witnesses said they saw him in a heated argument with a woman in a parking lot in a town in Utah. Coleman, 39, and the woman were in his vehicle discussing their relationship Friday night when two people saw him hit the steering wheel with his hands, Capt. Cliff Argyle said. "Mr. Coleman was very excited and loud. ... At one point he exited his vehicle, waving his arms, yelling and screaming," Argyle said. "Vehicles were unable to exit the parking lot because of Mr. Coleman's actions." He cooperated with officers who were called to the scene, Argyle said. The disorderly conduct citation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to three months in jail and a $750 fine. "What the city attorney proceeds with, I don't know," Argyle said. "It could end up being an infraction" similar to a traffic violation. A number for Coleman could not be found Tuesday. Coleman moved to Santaquin, about 55 miles south of Salt Lake City, in 2005, around the time he starred in "Church Ball," a comedy based on basketball leagues formed by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Coleman once fought a bitter legal battle with his parents over whether he was fit to handle his own affairs. In 1999, he pleaded no contest to disturbing the peace after he punched an autograph-seeker he claimed insulted him. He played Arnold on the sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes," which aired from 1978 to 1986.