MEL B AT BREAKING POINT
The Spice Girl is panicked and penniless
There’s no doubt about it – life is scary for Mel B right now. The former Spice Girl, who earlier this year blew the lid on her abusive marriage to Hollywood film producer Stephen Belafonte, looked strained as she arrived at court in Los Angeles last week.
She was arguing against having to pay spousal support and also $270,000 for her estranged husband’s legal fees for their upcoming divorce hearing.
The artist formerly known as Scary Spice remained calm throughout the hearing, but a source close to the pop star says that behind closed doors, she is on the verge of a breakdown.
“Mel is a complete mess,” the well-placed insider tells
Woman’s Day. “She’s trying to put on a brave face in public but she’s more fragile than ever. Everyone is worried she’s heading for a breakdown.
“She’s dropped almost 10kg and is barely eating. She’s also taking a cocktail of sleep meds and is often forced to knock herself out. Her anxiety gets so bad, it sometimes causes her to start shaking uncontrollably. ”
Her divorce hearing is slated to start on September 25 and friends close to the star say that the prospect of facing her allegedly abusive husband in court every day is traumatic for the stressed-out 42-year-old.
On top of that, it has been revealed that she has blown her entire $68 million fortune and has been left with a measly $1708.66 in her savings account.
The America’s Got Talent judge’s lavish spending over the past 10 years has included over $1.6 million on cars, a gift to Stephen, 42, of a $1.78 million island, nearly $890,000 on handbags and $6.2 million on an LA mansion.
Her wardrobe is stuffed with designer outfits from Valentino to Louis Vuitton and she owns around $1.78 million worth of jewellery, including a $700,000 ring with a pear-shaped diamond set in platinum and surrounded by more diamonds.
Her kids, Phoenix, 18, Angel, g 10, and Madison, five, have all gone to private schools and an estimated $445,000 a year has been spent paying her agent, publicist, personal assistant, nanny, housekeeper and pool cleaner.
Her taste for regular no-expense-spared holidays included one three-week break in Hawaii complete with a personal chef and butler.
“Everyone is rallying round trying to support her,” says our insider. “It’s going to be a long road. This divorce is going to be dragged out for another few months at least.”