Eddie Murphy reportedly hired a team of private detectives to spy on ex-girlfriend Melanie Brown after he thought she was cheating on him with a male friend.

According to the News of the World, the detectives photographed the former Spice Girl with the friend in Los Angeles last month and that was it for Eddie.

A source claiming to be a close friend told the newspaper: “Eddie had his suspicions that Mel was becoming close to a guy he knows. He was furious when he saw the pictures.”

Without telling Melanie, Eddie then dumped her and publicly questioned the paternity of the baby that she is carrying.

The source added: “It does on the face of it seem spiteful to now doubt that he’s the father of the baby, but as far as he’s concerned he’s been humiliated too. He’s just evening the score.”