Stern Will Not Fight for Custody If Birkhead's the Dad

Howard K. Stern will not stand in Larry Birkhead's way if the DNA tests show Birkhead is Dannielynn's father, this according to unimpeachable sources.

Howard K. SternThese sources have issued the following statement to TMZ:

"If Larry Birkhead is confirmed to be Dannielynn's biological father, Howard will not challenge custody. His love for her will not change, irrespective of the results. Howard will act in Dannielynn's best interest, because he loves her and would want a smooth transition to protect her, as she is deeply bonded to those who have been with her since birth.

While Howard continues to believe and hope that he is Dannielynn's biological father, he wants to be involved in her life, regardless of paternity. He wants to share the memories of her mother as the person who knew Anna best and all she wanted for Dannielynn.

Howard will do whatever is necessary to assist Larry Birkhead to defeat any effort by Virgie Arthur to obtain custody of Dannielynn.

Howard was not part of the paternity lawsuit filed while Anna Nicole was alive. The first person to challenge Howard on custody was Virgie Arthur -- not Larry Birkhead. Howard is dedicated to Virgie Arthur not having custody of Dannielynn. He is well aware of how Anna Nicole felt about 'Mommy Dearest' and Anna's feelings were clear regarding Virgie Arthur being anywhere near Dannielynn.

Speculation that this is somehow about money for Howard is misguided and wrong. Howard has never made a TV or book deal even though he is the one who knew Anna Nicole best.

Howard wants Anna Nicole to be remembered as an icon like Marilyn Monroe, and he knows a lot of damage has been done to her image in the past two months. This restoration of Anna's image is important for Dannielynn and the views she will have of her mother as she grows up. He also wants to make sure that only Dannielynn profits from Anna Nicole's name, likeness and estate. As TMZ reported earlier, the money from Anna Nicole's funeral went to a trust set up for Dannielynn. Howard set up the trust but he does not, and will not, receive any money from it and is not the trustee."


Anna Nicole SmithTMZ has confirmed that DNA results will be revealed in court on Tuesday in the Bahamas. Stern and Birkhead will both be present. Arthur is also expected to be there.



Tags: anna nicole smith, AnnaNicoleSmith, howard k. stern, HowardK.Stern, larry birkhead, LarryBirkhead

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(Page 4 of 328) Previous 15 Comments | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

46. .. This. from the man that is obviously the cause of her death !!!!!

Posted at 5:46PM on Apr 27th 2007 by Sterns Family are ALL LIARS

47. Howard, this, was perhaps your best move as of yet. However, I can't help thinking you might have yet another trick up your sleve when all is said and done. I'd like to believe that you truely loved Anna, but I'd need more proof.

Posted at 5:32PM on Apr 8th 2007 by tear drop

48. Well, I sure hope this article is true and that Howard will do the right thing if Larry turns out to be Dannielynn's father.

I doubt that Vergie will fight for custody if Larry is indeed the daddy. Larry stated under oath that he intended on letting Virgie be a part of the child's life. Stern will not have say about that!

Posted at 5:31PM on Apr 8th 2007 by Best wishes Virgie Arthur!

49. Somehow I don't believe a word he's saying. Not one word. He's tried to stop everything at every turn. He knows he's NOT the father.

I'll believe it when I see it. I don't believe it though, not one word.

Posted at 5:32PM on Apr 8th 2007 by chrissy

50. LARRY BIRKHEAD would never make a deal... Think about it!

This is called SURRENDER. Stern was in a war he cannot win because he cannot overcome the DNA results. He knows he is not the father and he knows Larry is.

As I and many others have repeatedly suggested, it would be much better for him to do the right thing without having the court order him to.

I believe this might also help him with the INQUEST matters. Public perception is everything!

Larry will NEVER exclude Virgie, I'm sure. She should be able to see the baby and be part of her life - like any grandmother... But she certainly should not have custody.

Posted at 5:40PM on Apr 8th 2007 by Jenny Justice

51. You can be sure there is a catch to everything Stern does. If he controls the money as executor, he could care less if he actually has to take care of Dannielynn. She is being taken care of by nannies now anyway.

Maybe Howard is being advised to say this since it will make him look like a good guy. If Howard raises this child, she might not even make it to 15 as Anna did. I wonder how much the poor baby might be addicted to drugs anyway with her Mom staying high all the time. The main reason Howard and Anna fled the U.S. was because Larry wanted Anna to get off drugs and he would have declared her an unfit mother had he gotten co-custody of the little girl. As Anna says while lying on the grass, Larry is a scumbag because he is trying to take my baby away from me. Larry really wanted a healthy baby, not a mother who even had trouble holding the little girl because she was so strung out. Anna got what she wanted - plenty of drugs, an early death like Maryilyn Monroe on the same kind of drug that killed Marilyn. She wrote her script well. Now, Dannielynn's future lies in getting away from the environment that nutured Anna.

Posted at 5:34PM on Apr 8th 2007 by Jan A

52. Howard already knows he was never the father. There should be no deal made to suit Howard K. Stern. He has no right to be any part of Dannielynn's life.

Posted at 5:32PM on Apr 8th 2007 by PrettyIrishWoman

53. Why don't you bastards at TMZ and Howard the Coward, leave Virgie alone. She doe not want permanent custody of Dannielynn, she just wants custody until the bio dad is established. There is nothing wrong with that.

As for Howard the Coward saying he is the one person who knew Anna(Vickie) the best, that is a disgusting lie. Her mother and family knew her the best.

Posted at 5:36PM on Apr 8th 2007 by Dr. Phil Is A Fool

54. Now what is up Sterns sleeve? On March 27th, Neavett told Nancy Grace, the birth certificate will show Howard is the father and that even if Larry is the bio dad, Stern is going for custody.

Suddenly, Stern tries to look like the good guy?

O'Quinn stated on Greta last Wednesday Larry and Virgie communicate every day, and they agree to joint custody, meaning Larry will allow Virgie in Dannilynnes life. The ONLY reason O'Quinn said Virgie was going for full custody was a back up, espeically if the DNA turned out not to be Larry.

$$$$ wants to be part of managing little Dannilynnes money because inevitably Dannilynne will get the will, but Larry can appoint the lawyers he chooses in regard to the estate if he is Dannlilynnes daddy.

Something is not right here with this press release and I think Stern is gearing up to look like Mr. Nice guy because the inquest is coming up.

Posted at 5:33PM on Apr 8th 2007 by lucas

55. The mother of Danielynn wanted nothing to do with Virgie. She made that abundantly clear on numerous occasions. Therefore, I am all for anything that can be done to keep that gold digging Virgie away from that baby. I hope that Howard is the father but to me this statement is basically saying he knows that he isn't and the time has come for him to support who he deep down inside the guy he thinks/knows to be the biological father.

Posted at 5:35PM on Apr 8th 2007 by lynnzie

56. To #8 -
Hmmm... if I am not a lawyer, then what is this Juris Doctor degree from a top law school doing on my wall? What have I been doing for the past five years? What are you, a legal secretary? A scorned grandparent? Or a jailhouse lawyer-want-to-be? Lol. You're just pissed 'cause you got called out!

Posted at 5:33PM on Apr 8th 2007 by Michelle

57. #45, you are really not up to snuff on grandparents' rights. #42 said the right thing. As I mentioned in my blurb before that, here in Oregon grandparents do not automatically have rights to interact with their grandchildren. Sorry, but that is a fact here.

And here in Oregon, any woman who applies for welfare and refuses to divulge the father's name (so the State can go after him for child support) does not automatically get any assistance.

Posted at 5:34PM on Apr 8th 2007 by Lilarose

58. lin wood is just doing damage control. besides....

1) STERN WILL GET A CHUNK OF THE MARSHALL MONEY IF IT MATERIALIZES
2) ALL OF ANNA'S ASSETS HAVE BEEN WELL HIDDEN BY NOW
3) STERN THINKS IF HE CLEANS UP HIS IMAGE A LITTLE, HE MIGHT STILL MANAGE A BOOK DEAL EVENTIALLY
4) IT IS NOT LIKE STERN EVER GAVE A DAMN ABOUT THAT CHILD ANYWAY..HE'S JUST FIGURED OUT THAT HE HAS MADE ALL HE CAN BY HOLDING ON TO HER. NOW HE CAN PROFIT MORE BY LETTING HER GO.

Posted at 5:37PM on Apr 8th 2007 by girlie girl

59. Isn't it obvious? L Lin Wood turned down this mother f***er!!!

Posted at 5:34PM on Apr 8th 2007 by WTF?

60. I really hope this is true. That when Tuesday comes, if Larry is the father he will back away I applaud him.
I personally will believe it when I see it.

And who is saying these things?? BONNIE I BET.
AND HAS ANYONE CHECKED THIS POOR CHILD TODAY??????? HOWARD IS GETTING DESPERATE!!

Posted at 5:34PM on Apr 8th 2007 by Chaos

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