Who's the father of Hurley's baby
2001-12-04 10:02
Los Angeles - Millionaire film producer Steve Bing said on Monday he is not sure if he is the father of the baby expected by British actress Elizabeth Hurley, as she has claimed, but insisted he would be a "responsible parent" if the child proves to be his.
Bing issued the unusual statement through his publicist after the Daily Mail newspaper in London reported he had ended his relationship with Hurley because he was seeing another woman, and that the actress faces a court battle with Bing to obtain child support.
"Ms Hurley and I were not in an exclusive relationship when she became pregnant," Bing said in his statement. "It is her choice to be a single mother. The insinuation that I would not care about the well-being of another human being has been very hurtful to both myself and my family.
"If indeed I am the father, I will be an extremely involved and responsible parent," his statement concluded. His publicist declined to comment further.
Bing, the millionaire grandson of New York real estate magnate Leo Bing and a producer of such films as Get Carter, reportedly began dating Hurley in the fall of 2000. Prior to that, Hurley had dated British actor Hugh Grant for 13 years.
Hurley, 36, the former face of Estee Lauder cosmetics who starred in the films Bedazzled and Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, announced last month that she was expecting a baby with Bing in April. But Bing had been silent about Hurley's pregnancy until now.
According to the Daily Mail, Bing began seeing a lesser-known American actress named Brenda Swanson last summer while still involved with Hurley, whom he ultimately left for Swanson this fall.
The newspaper said he is reported to have demanded a paternity test to determine if he is the father of Hurley's child and is communicating with Hurley through lawyers.
- SAPA