Stop right now! MEL’S BATTLE FOR THE BIG BUCKS
The savvy Spice Girl’s nasty divorce
Without her wedding ring and rocking a chainmail-like Nadine Merabi jumpsuit that glittered like a golden suit of armour, Melanie Brown made it clear that she’s heading into battle as she made her first red-carpet appearance since splitting from her second husband.
The day after her glam style statement at the new season launch of America’s
Got Talent in Los Angeles, the Spice Girl met with a lawyer to stop her estranged hubby, Stephen Belafonte, getting his paws on her $85 million fortune.
As Mel, 41, filed for divorce just three months shy of their 10th anniversary, wannabe film producer Stephen, also 41, can expect only half of the spousal support he would otherwise receive, with California legal experts estimating his cut of her earnings may come to just $9 million, including
his share of their $12.5 million family home, which is already on the market.
“Mel is a canny Yorkshire lass,” reports a source close to the reality star, adding that her ex had signed an iron-clad prenup. “This wasn’t her preparing for the marriage to fail but the act of a hard-nosed businesswoman who knew the pitfalls that can lie ahead in any relationship.”
The artist formerly known as Scary Spice was previously married to back-up dancer Jimmy Gulzar, the father of her daughter Phoenix, 18. She also has girls Angel, 10, with ex Eddie Murphy and Madison, five, with Stephen.
Her star lawyer, Susan Wiesner, has previously represented guitarist Richie Sambora in his divorce from Heather Locklear and musician Ben Harper in his separation from actress Laura Dern.
As Woman’sDay reported last week, a heartbroken Mel
realised she had to leave her controlling, violent husband in a moment of clarity after her dad’s death.
Shockingly, Stephen was last week seen cosying up to another woman in LA while his wife was in Leeds for her father’s funeral. Since then, more sordid details about their volatile open marriage have emerged.
Stephen’s big brother Jeremiah Stansbury has claimed the couple’s regular threesomes ruined their romance, explaining, “If you’re not a very mature person and you’re not very solid, then someone is going to feel unappreciated.”
Jeremiah, 43, also alleges Stephen flirted with their nanny and that Mel was outraged when her hubby brought a gun into the family home. However, he claims their most furious fight came after the singer’s pet dog Lord attacked Stephen and he punched the poor pooch in the ribs with all of his strength.