A source said: "Geri believes this is the time to be kind and supportive and not to remember past conflicts."

The friend continued: "Mel has told Geri she felt scared and humiliated. Her daughter Phoenix Chi had met Eddie’s children and it was already like one big family.

"Geri - who feels settled and strong as a new mother - knows Mel is alone in LA and fears she will be ostracised. She has been in floods of tears - Geri has never seen her so bewildered."

Mel B: Eddie is the father - Dec 7 2006
Eddie Murphy has said he is not sure if he is the father of former Spice Girl Mel B’s unborn child. The singer, however, says she is quite certain he is.

"I am obviously upset and distressed at some of the comments made by Eddie Murphy to the media," the 31-year-old said in a statement released by her publicist, Nadine Bibi.

"I have no idea why anyone 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 daughter, Phoenix, and of course the baby. I was astonished by what Eddie said. There is absolutely no question that Eddie is the father."

Bibi said Mel -- formerly known as Scary Spice -- was not giving interviews "at this stage."

Eddie, 45, who stars in the upcoming Dreamgirls film, was recently asked by a TV interviewer if he was excited that Mel was pregnant.

"Now you’re being presumptuous because we’re not together anymore," Eddie replied.

"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."

A clip of the interview was posted earlier this week on the entertainment Web site TMZ.com.

Arnold Robinson, a spokesman for Eddie, said he did not comment on the actor’s personal life.

Mel’s distress at Eddie - Dec 7 2006
Melanie Brown has spoken out over her relationship with Eddie Murphy - saying she was "distressed" and "astonished" by his comments about her.

The pregnant ex-Spice Girl was thought to believe that the couple were going to marry when she flew into Britain recently following their whirlwind romance.

But she was stunned when the Hollywood star went on a TV show to tell the world their relationship was over, and questioned whether he was the father of her baby.

The former singer released a statement today revealing her distress at the turn of events.

She said: "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 wellbeing of my daughter Phoenix and of course the baby. I was astonished what Eddie said - there is absolutely no question that Eddie is the father."

"My main concern is to concentrate on the wellbeing of my daughter and baby."

The 45-year-old actor was seen showing off his new girlfriend, film producer Tracey Edmonds at the New York premiere of Dreamgirls, earlier this week.

The ex-wife of singer Kenneth ’Babyface’ Edmonds said they had been seeing each other "for about a month and a half".

Mel is ’shell-shocked’ - Dec 7 2006
Pregnant Spice Mel B is apparently "shell-shocked" that Eddie Murphy is demanding her baby has a DNA test when it is born.