Archive Scoop By Kristen Mascia Published on August 13, 2007 12:00 PM Share Tweet Pin Email FOR BREAKING CELEBRITY NEWS EVERY DAY People.COM Spice Girl Says: EDDIE AND I PLANNED THE BABY Melanie Brown speaks out about her relationship with ex-boyfriend Eddie Murphy—while the actor announces his engagement to a TV producer The paternity battle may be over, but Eddie Murphy and Melanie Brown’s game of “he said, she said” shows no signs of quieting. Although the actor publicly expressed doubts that he was the father of Angel Iris Murphy Brown, now 4 months, the Spice Girl told Essence that her pregnancy was “completely planned” and that the two also talked about marriage. “This wasn’t some random ‘Oops I fell over and I’m pregnant,'” she insisted. “I don’t live my life like that.” (The singer, who dated Murphy for six months and is now with film producer Stephen Belafonte, also says cryptically, “Certain things went on in his house … that I wasn’t prepared to be a part of.”) In the midst of all this baby drama (the issue of child support has not been resolved), Murphy has managed to find love. He and TV producer Tracey Edmonds—ex-wife of Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds—became engaged July 25. (He popped the question with a canary yellow diamond from Cartier.) “Tracey and Eddie are both very much in love and excited about spending the rest of their lives together,” says her rep. Brown, meanwhile, says she still hopes the actor can be a part of their daughter’s life. “[This is] about Angel and her relationship with her father,” says the pop star. “Every child deserves to know that they have a mum and a dad.” Lindsay LohanIN HIDING Since her July 24 DUI arrest, Lindsay Lohan has gone underground. (Mom Dina would only say, “She’s in a safe place getting help.”) But the rest of the Lohan clan continues to stay in the spotlight. On July 27 dad Michael faced Dina in court over child support for Lindsay’s younger siblings. And Dina made headlines criticizing Jay Leno for allowing Rob Schneider to mock Lindsay the night of her arrest. Schneider fired back to Scoop, “When Mrs. Lohan stops partying with her child, then I’ll respect her.” He added, “Lindsay, get it together. America will forgive you.” Nicole Richie: YES, I’M PREGNANT It’s official. After months of speculation, Nicole Richie, 25, has confirmed that she is expecting a child with her rocker beau Joel Madden. “Yes, I’m pregnant,” she told ABC News’s Diane Sawyer July 31. “I’m almost four months [along].” As for the guilty plea she entered in her DUI case July 27, Richie said, “If I could personally apologize to every single person that has lost a loved one from drunk driving, I would…. This is my way of … taking responsibility.” Richie was sentenced to four days in jail, three years probation and an 18-month alcohol education program. Steve MartinGETS HITCHED Wild and crazy guy? Less so these days. Steve Martin, 61—who was married to actress Victoria Tennant and once dated Anne Heche—wed writer Anne Stringfield, 35, in a surprise ceremony at his L.A. home July 28. (The bride wore Vera Wang.) Tom Hanks, Diane Keaton and Eugene Levy were among the 75 unsuspecting guests, and Saturday Night Live’s Lorne Michaels served as best man. According to one guest, Martin joked, “It’s [easy] when you only have one line to say—’I do.'” Matthew McConaughey‘s SUMMER OLYMPICS Beijing bound? The 2008 Summer Games are many months away, but try telling that to Matthew McConaughey. The 37-year-old actor has delivered gold-medal-worthy performances on sand, surf and turf. PEOPLE’s Hottest Bachelor told the magazine, “My goal is to break a sweat each day.” Yeah, we noticed. Heart MONITOR Justin & Jessica’sDATE NIGHT Jessica Biel is still Justin Timberlake‘s No. 1 fan—even if he is on a brief break from touring. On July 29 the actress, 25 (currently starring in I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry), joined Timberlake, 26, and his dancers for dinner at Hollywood hot spot Parc. “It was very cute. Justin and Jessica would sneak little kisses whenever they could,” says a fellow diner. “Justin seemed really proud to have her there as ‘his girl.'” (The two were first linked at a Golden Globes afterparty in January, and Biel traveled with the singer’s European tour in May and June.) Biel will get plenty more backstage-pass opportunities when Timberlake’s tour resumes in his hometown of Memphis on Aug. 6. Jessica AlbaCASH FREE? With rumors swirling last week that Jessica Alba, 26, had broken up with her longtime boyfriend, producer Cash Warren, 30, sources confirm to PEOPLE that the pair are indeed on the rocks. According to a friend, the couple—who attended Eva Longoria and Tony Parker’s July nuptials—scrapped plans to spend the rest of the summer traveling in Europe together. (Her rep had no comment on the possible split.) But don’t sound the death knell just yet: The two were spotted lunching at Jinky’s Cafe in West Hollywood on July 27. “They were fairly quiet,” says an onlooker. “But Jessica had her hand on his knee throughout the meal.” And when asked if he and Alba were still speaking July 29, Warren told Scoop, “Of course.” Hilary Swank’sBEACHSIDE BIRTHDAY Who needs a party? For her 33rd b-day, Hilary Swank spent a quiet weekend with her boyfriend, CAA agent John Campisi, 40, in Dana Point, Calif. Staying at the St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach, the pair took surfing lessons July 28, then relaxed with Swedish massages. They capped things off with a champagne brunch the next day—before deciding to stay an extra night. ‘Somebody needs to teach you some class, my friend. You don’t go grabbing somebody else’s husband’s [private parts], you understand me?’ FAITH HILL, onstage during a July 28 concert in Lafayette, La., after an overzealous fan attempted to grope husband Tim McGraw Suiting Up for Laughs In Hot Rod, Saturday Night Live’s Andy Samberg sacrifices life and limb—all in the name of comedy Q & A He and Justin Timberlake brought new meaning to the season of giving with their Emmy-nominated song “D—in a Box.” Now Andy Samberg, 28, plays an Evel Knievel wannabe in the wacky comedy Hot Rod. The SNL star gets silly with PEOPLE’s Kristen Mascia. Are you klutzy like Rod?I’m terrible on things with wheels. In high school I was learning how to skateboard and flipped the board into my face. My mouth had to be sewn shut! It was a disaster. What’s up with the Footloose scene in the film?It’s a direct homage [to Kevin Bacon’s warehouse dance]. I’d like to make sweet, sweet love to that man. What’s the greatest stunt you ever pulled?I jumped off a 50-foot cliff into a lake once. That was pretty fun. Umm. Cool?I’m much more daring in terms of what I’ll say to strangers. Me and my friends used to go to parties and make up stories about ourselves. I had a buddy who convinced everyone he was heir to the Rubbermaid [fortune]. He woke up with 17 girls’ numbers in his pockets. Congrats on your music-and-lyrics Emmy nod for “D—in a Box.”It’s half cool, half surreal. I texted Justin but it’s different for him—he gets nominated for something every half hour. Just out of curiosity, how big was the box?Massive. Almost too big. We got a lot of complaints.