Love + Sex

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Casual paternity: Jude Law the latest to get caught in the mess of celeb love children and opportunists

Franco Origlia/Getty Images

Franco Origlia/Getty Images

Jude Law already has three children with his ex-wife, Sadie Frost, but a new lady, model/actress Samantha Burke has revealed she is carrying his fourth child. The couple apparently had a fling last winter during the  filming of "Sherlock Holmes." Burke's lawyer confirmed their relationship and claims she told Law he was the father of the unborn child. Law has publicly announced that he is to be a father again and that he "is no longer in a relationship with the individual concerned, but he intends to be a fully supportive part of the child's life." According to her registry at Babies 'R' Us, Burke will be delivering a daughter around October 6.

Jude Law is just the latest celebrity with a love child. Many famous guys have several kids with different wives, girlfriends, and even near strangers. Many factors come into play, but there are two huge questions we have:

  1. Why don't these men use birth control?
  2. Are these women opportunists trying to get pregnant for money and fame?

To investigate, let's take a look at 10 other casual paternity cases.

Mick Jagger
The aging rocker has had children with several woman but didn't always want to be with the mothers. He dumped pregnant girlfriend Marsha Hunt in 1970 and was in court with her for nine years until he finally was forced to pay child support. Later, while married to Jerry Hall, Jagger dated model Luciana Morad. He denied paternity of her child, but DNA tests proved he was the father and he must pay $10,000 a month until their son is 21.

Jack Nicholson
The womanizing actor has four children by three different women that we know of, but he assumes there are more little Jacks out there. “There could be 9,000 for all I know – I used to live so freely," he says. “You can’t get too wild these days but I’m as wild as you can get.”

Ol' Dirty B*stard

The deceased rapper allegedly has 12 or 13 kids with various women as well as three children with his widow, Icelene. She has stored some of his DNA just in case anyone comes forward for future paternity tests.

Eddie Murphy
The actor dated Spice Girl Melanie Brown following his 2006 divorce, and shortly after Scary Spice became pregnant with his child. He said he didn't believe, but a paternity test came back with positive results. Brown says he wants nothing to do with their daughter, who is his seventh child.

John Edwards
The former senator and vice presidential nominee  had an affair with former campaign worker Rielle Hunter. While he admitted to the relationship, he has denied being the father of her child. Though he offered to take a DNA test, it was not pursued to public knowledge. His campaign is being investigated for possible use of campaign money for personal use related to the affair. Edwards and his wife remain married.

Bill Cosby
The comedian had an affair with Shawn Upshaw in the '70s and gave her over $100,000. In 1997 their alleged daughter, Autumn Jackson, threatened to go to tabloids if Cosby didn't give her $40 million and was then taken to court. Jackson was sentenced to 26 months in prison, and though Cosby offered to take a DNA test, Jackson refused to submit a blood sample. The paternity remains unknown.

Kevin Federline
The backup dancer was engaged to actress Shar Jackson back in 2004 with one child and a second on the way when he cheated on her with Britney Spears. He soon married the pop star and had two sons with her, but then the couple divorced after infidelity rumors and entered a custody battle.

DMX

The rapper married his wife Tashera in 1999 and the couple have four children. In 2006, DMX was ordered to pay $5,000 a month in child support to Davita Oden after a paternity test proved that he was the father of her toddler. Two years later he had to pay $1.5 million in damages and $5,000 a month in child support to Monique Wayne. He denied being the father of her child and claimed she must have raped him after they met in a club.

Steve Jobs
The co-founder and CEO of Apple may be loaded now, but when he was 23, he got Chris-Ann Brennan pregnant and denied it for two years while she was forced to go on welfare. He claimed he was “sterile and infertile” but a paternity test proved he was the father.

Steven Bing
This millionaire was involved in not one but two paternity cases. DNA tests proved Bing is the father of actress Elizabeth Hurley's son and also tennis player Lisa Bonder's daughter after an extensive court trial and complicated lawsuits.

Sources: [E!][TMZ][PopCrunch][Sun]
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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 19
  • E or El's Avatar
    Posted by E or El Mon Aug 3, 2009 7:18am PDT

    Love seems like a cruel joke. Just got left by husband....who can you count on if you can't even count on the one you married. Birthcontrol is a good thing.

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  • Ahleah G's Avatar
    Posted by Ahleah G Mon Aug 3, 2009 7:48am PDT

    One thing that makes Jude Law stand out from the rest of this list (except maybe Jack Nicholson): He is being an honorable man and stepping up to be a father. Yes, there was a paternity test, but he is not going to be making this a drawn out court battle or denying his child.

    We are assuming he didn't use birth control. Maybe he did. As for the rest of the list, well maybe they did just not all the time (I don't mean to imply that's OK). Also some of these men were sleeping around pre-HIV when I think condom use was less common. I think you have to be responsible for having that many kids, and most of these men just weren't being responsible. I think there is a bit of attitude about not having to step up or birth control being the woman's responsibility since they weren't the ones carrying the babies.

    I wouldn't assume badly of the women. Some of them, like Mick Jagger's girlfriend and Scary Spice, were in a relationship and got screwed over. Some of them were probably being a little reckless too and were just starstruck. And there were probably a few gold diggers as well. You just shouldn't assign bad intentions to them all.

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  • oohay's Avatar
    Posted by oohay Mon Aug 3, 2009 9:36am PDT

    These guys are pigs no doubt, but no worst than the sluts who hoped to get a piece of their fame. Peps believe me on this there is nothing better than loving only the woman your with and being a real father to the children of your devotion. It’s the most fulfilling experience I’ve had. Dogs go around trying to impregnate every bi**h (only using the term as a female dog) that will bend over. Man up, be there for you kids.

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  • vinovixin's Avatar
    Posted by vinovixin Mon Aug 3, 2009 9:50am PDT

    What's with the title, "Love Children"? If these were irresponsible non-celebrities we would not be calling these children "Love Children". If their father wasn't well to do, emotionally committed to their mother (and/or child), or held responsible by law, we would call these children OUT OF LUCK! So why do we insist on glamorizing what is often just an act of immaturity, lack of restraint and irresponsibleness? Have they not heard of a condom? Contraceptive devices? AND if they were used (birth control), and they still had 4 "Love Children", perhaps it's time to say enough is enough. Why bring more children into this world who lack a solid foundation? I know that "family" happens in all shapes and forms, but think about it.... These two people aren't even a couple any longer. Growing up is hard enough for children in families with two committed parents. Law and Burke's children will likely face additional emotional uncertainties and insecurities, of which they may or may not rise above as they grow older. BUT WHY KNOWINGLY TAKE THAT CHANCE WITH SOMEONE ELSES LIFE? It's an act of selfishness, it's sad and it sets an bad example to all those who (sad but true) worship celebrities.

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  • Beth's Avatar
    Posted by Beth Mon Aug 3, 2009 10:18am PDT

    Don't you just love DNA tests? Not only does it prove these guys to be liars but also that they're great big selfish jerks who are trying to avoid responsability.

    Whether the women involved were trying to get pregnate I can't say. What I can say is if the guy didn't take his own precaution...well, you have only yourself to blame.

    Again...great big selfish jerks.

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  • KG's Avatar
    Posted by KG Mon Aug 3, 2009 10:55am PDT

    USE BIRTH CONTROL. MEN, EITHER GET FIXED OR USE CONDOMS, EVEN IF THE WOMAN SAYS SHE IS ON THE PILL. NUFF SAID.

    There are women out there who cash in on opportunities to get knocked up when they get with celebs. Sorry, Scary Spice is right up there too. Her career was in the toilet till Eddie came along and she became the damsel in distress.

    I wonder how many of these celebrity dogs have had SDT's? I bet more than one has herpes...

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  • Anonymous's Avatar
    Posted by Anonymous Mon Aug 3, 2009 11:24am PDT

    Autumn Jackson was NOT Bill Cosby daughter. Her real father came forward and proved she was his daughter.

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  • Andygirl's Avatar
    Posted by Andygirl Mon Aug 3, 2009 11:57am PDT

    birth control is one thing, but I want to know why these people aren't using protection? many of these cases were with near strangers. aren't these people scared of disease at all?

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  • Doktor Eevol's Avatar
    Posted by Doktor Eevol Mon Aug 3, 2009 1:32pm PDT

    1. Why don't these men use birth control?

    2. Are these women opportunists trying to get pregnant for money and fame?

    Here's the thing - if the "man" would keep it in his pants, or be reproductively responsible, number 2 wouldn't get a chance to happen in the first place.

    I have NO sympathy for a "man" who beds down here and there without using protection properly or getting a vasectomy. A vasectomy is the only way to be sure and is reversible. I *may* have sympathy for the guys who use condoms and take every precaution (like buying their own stash) but at this point in my life, I'm sick of the excuses.

    There are opportunistic women out there, but blaming them for HIS irresponsibility is just asinine.

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  • sandycheeks11's Avatar
    Posted by sandycheeks11 Mon Aug 3, 2009 1:33pm PDT

    WHO CARES!!

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