Former Spice Girl Melanie Brown has reportedly had her daughter Fortuna Daphne Bay's DNA taken to prove actor Eddie Murphy is the father. The singer, formally known as Scary Spice, gave birth last week, but she now faces a paternity battle with Murphy, who insists he isn't the tot's father.

A friend of the singer tells British newspaper the Daily Mirror, "She is distraught that her baby has been subjected to the DNA-testing procedure.She can't believe that it's come to this and that Eddie hasn't just admitted that the child is his. The last week should have been an incredible time for Mel but it's been emotionally overwhelming and she's been constantly in tears. The DNA test was the last straw and she's gearing up to fight back."

The couple dated for six months last year until Murphy announced on TV that "we're not together anymore". Last November - a month after Brown announced her pregnancy news - the Dreamgirls actor publicly dismissed her claims of paternity on Dutch TV show RTL Boulevard, saying, "I don't know whose child that is, until it comes out and has a blood test."