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Mel B’s ex-husband, Stephen Belafonte, is suing her for $5 million in a defamation lawsuit.
PEOPLE reports the producer claims the Spice Girl’s accusations of domestic violence are false and accuses Mel of being a deadbeat mom.
Stephen filed suit in a Florida court on Mel B’s birthday, May 29. The documents alleged that the singer was attempting to “destroy” him. The pair married in 2007 and ended their union in March 2017. They finalized the divorce in 2018.
Stephen currently has custody of their 12-year-old daughter Madison. He stated that Mel has “barely maintained a relationship.” Furthermore, he alleged she has only visited their child in the United States once in the last four years.
Mel B. — born Melanie Brown — made allegations of emotional and physical abuse following their split. She shared the allegations in her memoir, ‘Brutally Honest,’ released in 2018.
Brown reportedly told PEOPLE in March, “… it’s so important to honestly say what happens when you leave abuse, because it’s not as easy as some people may think.” She continued, “…my mother would say, ‘What’s wrong with you? You’re fine now. You’ve left him.’ And I’d be going. ‘Yeah, but now I’ve got to pick up the pieces and I’ve got to deal with the shame and the guilt, and I want to protect my kids.'”
Mel added, “…I don’t want to block out what happened because I did that for a little bit, and you get PTSD.”
Furthermore, Brown alleged she covered up injuries after Stephen attacked her. She filed a restraining order in 2017 against Belafonte.
Mel alleged while taping ‘The X Factor Australia’ in 2012, her then-husband accused her of flirting with R&B singer Usher on set. She claimed he punched her “causing [her] lip to split and then swell.” She told her co-workers that she had an allergic reaction to shellfish.
Belafonte stated the story Brown told was a “complete fabrication.” Furthermore, the director said he “has never physically, sexually, emotionally or financially abused” Mel.
Lorraine Gilles sued the entertainer in 2017. She is the couple’s former nanny. Gilles stated Mel publicly accused her of having an affair with Stephen and became pregnant. Gilles claimed the British performer gave her alcohol when she was underage and seduced her into having threesomes with her husband. The court documents stated that Brown “later admitted that her accusations regarding the affair between Ms. Gilles and Mr. Belafonte were false.”
Brown is currently an ambassador for Women’s Aid, a charity organization for domestic violence survivors. Additionally, her home country recognized her advocacy. Mel was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire. She is currently engaged to Rory McPhee, a hairstylist.
There’s hard mud slingin’ on both sides, but who’s telling the truth?
