*Did Eddie Murphy really skip the London premiere of “Dreamgirls” last week because he feared running into fans of his British ex-girlfriend, Melanie Brown?
That’s how some papers have explained his absence at the film’s splashy opening event last Monday at Leicester Square.
"London is her turf," an “insider” told the New York Post. "And Eddie knows Mel has a loyal fan base. He's afraid the U.K.'s reaction to him won't be good because of what he did to her."
Brown’s faithful have rallied in her support after he reportedly got her pregnant, then dumped her and questioned the paternity of the child during a press interview.
Murphy’s people say his absence in London was due to publicity obligations for his film “Norbit,” which arrives in theaters on Feb. 9.
"Eddie very much wanted to come to the U.K. premiere," said the spokesman. "Eddie's not attending the U.K. premiere of 'Dreamgirls' had nothing to do with Ms. Brown or anything else. He was looking forward to going."