Eddie Murphy and Mel B's 18-year-old son comes out as a transgender man in the vulnerability-filled yet decisive moment: 'Please just open your mind.' The news did not break with a headline or an interview, but an update: a shift in pronouns and identity on Instagram.
Angel, as the young man had been known, took to Instagram to publicly announce his new identity, updating his bio to reflect the transition. And though there has been no official word, the message is clear: He's coming into his own.
His mother, Mel B, a.k.a. "Scary Spice," a performer, Spice Girl, and now a 50-year-old mom, was beaming with pride in her recent post, although she didn't mention the transition directly. Her pride and love seemed obvious enough. On his 18th birthday, she wrote:
"Happy birthday to my Angel. I can hardly believe you're 18. You are such a special, bright, talented person! There's nothing I love more than watching you grow and become the person you are, but you'll always be my baby. I hope you continue chasing your dreams and remain kind and gracious to everyone, just as you have always been, my Angel!
Those words mean even more now because they are an affirmation of the cross-generational bond of unconditional love that every child yearns for, especially when the vulnerability and self-discovery surrounding them overwhelm and throw them into the heights of vulnerable moments like this.
Both Mel B and Eddie Murphy are supporting their sons as they come into their own. Though neither parent has publicly commented on the transition, the absence of any condemnation says a great deal.
For those of us who have followed the family's struggle over the years, though, this moment is also one part of a longer story. Angel, who is now a young man, is the result of a short-lived but high-profile romance between Mel B and comedy icon Eddie Murphy. Their years together were not without turbulence and ultimately devolved into a public paternity dispute that made headlines in the late 2000s. After DNA results confirmed that Murphy was indeed the father, the two settled on finances in 2009, and Angel was added to both of their families.
Now, a little over a decade later, their child is emerging as a young adult, not as the subject of tabloid drama, but as the owner of his voice.
It's a modest and undramatic courage and deserving of recognition. At a time when coming out still carries risk, especially for trans youth, this moment is both personal and potent. Receiving that support from two high-profile parents only emphasizes that love should never be contingent upon anything. This is more than an Instagram update for Mel B and Eddie Murphy's son. It's a new chapter, one that Crichton wrote on his terms, with family by his side.
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