Father of Anna Nicole Smith's baby is revealed

By Stone Martindale Sep 27, 2006, 3:12 GMT

Howard K. Smith, an attorney representing spokesmodel and television star Anna Nicole Smith said Tuesday he is the father of her daughter, born earlier this month in the Bahamas live on Larry King.

"Anna and I have been in a relationship and we love each other, and it's been going on for a very long time, and because of my relationship as her lawyer, we felt that it was best to keep everything hidden," Howard K. Stern told CNN's "Larry King Live."

Stern said to King that he and Smith are confident he is the father, and "based on when the timing of when the baby was born, there really is no doubt in either of our minds."

Entertainment reporter and photographer Larry Birkhead also claims to be the father of the girl, named Danilynne Hope.

In a statement, Birkhead said Smith told him he is the child's father, and that he has proof.

He said he accompanied Smith to doctors' appointments until a "minor disagreement" took place while she was pregnant. He suggested a DNA test be conducted to determine the child's paternity. He also made similar comments to "Entertainment Tonight."

In response to Birkhead, Stern said, "I think, first, you have to look at what his motives are. If he honestly believed he was the father, based on when the baby was born, he should have handled it appropriately ... handle it through the proper channels, not through television and through the media."

Birkhead also has sent "a slew" of e-mails to Smith, Stern said, calling it "just completely inappropriate."

"Anna has had problems with people going to the media in the past about her, and for that reason, most people around her, including myself, have signed confidentiality clauses that we won't go to the media about her," Stern said. "I'm just very shocked at how he's handled this, under the circumstances."

Asked whether Smith and Birkhead had a relationship, Stern said, "she never considered him her boyfriend." He would not comment on whether Smith was intimate with Birkhead.

Stern commented on the trauma of Daniel's sudden and unexpected death, saying Smith had to be sedated to cope.

Stern would not comment on funeral plans for Daniel Smith.

Larry King asked how Smith was doing, Stern said, "She's having a tough time of it. I can't really imagine being in any worse condition. She has help, she's doing the best she can, but you know, this is a really tough thing to deal with."

The baby, he said, "is the one ray of hope. It's the one thing that's really keeping her going."