Mel’s hell
Ex dates woman as star buries dad
MEL B’s estranged husband Stephen Belafonte cosied up to another woman while the heartbroken Spice Girl star was attending her dad’s funeral.
Belafonte, 41, held hands with the woman at Serafina Sunset – the Los Angeles restaurant he owns with Mel.
The mystery friend wore a peach outfit as she sipped cocktails with Mel’s husband of 10 years.
Meanwhile, 5,000 miles away, Mel was in Leeds mourning her dad Martin, who died after a five-year cancer battle.
Mum-of-three Mel, 41, announced last week that she had filed for divorce.
Belafonte, father of Mel’s youngest daughter Madison, five, was spotted in LA on Thursday wearing his wedding ring. But it had been removed for his date with the other woman on Friday, the day of Martin’s funeral. Yesterday, Mel and her three daughters were heading back to the US where TV guru Simon Cowell was waiting to console her. They are judges on the new series of America’s Got Talent, which launches in a blaze of publicity tomorrow. Friends say Simon, 57, has been a huge support since Mel announced her marriage split. A friend said: “Mel faces a tricky Monday with the AGT launch. Her divorce and recent loss are sure to come up in interviews. “Simon is supporting her. He understands how emotionally fraught her life is right now.” Mel’s funeral trip came after a 10-year rift was healed as the family rallied round ailing Martin. Her sister Danielle and mother Andrea were pictured arm-in-arm leaving St Aidan’s Church in Leeds.
Mel kept a low profile at the church before attending a private burial and a wake, where she was supported by fellow Spice Girl Emma Bunton, 41, and showbiz pal Kerry Katona, 36.
Singer Mel – who has two other daughters, Phoenix, 18, and Angel, nine – was with her dad when he died on March 4.
She shared a photo of herself and Danielle, 36, holding hands with Martin. Mel wrote on Instagram: “Both of his children were by his side and say thank you to all the doctors and nurses for amazing care over the years.”
Mel, also seen in LA without her wedding ring, cited “irreconcilable differences” in her divorce petition. It is claimed her reported €50million fortune is protected by a pre-nup.
janine.yaqoob@ trinitymirror.com