Mel gives Simon a soaking on live TV

MEL B has defended dousing Simon Cowell with water and storming off the set of America’s Got Talent after he joked about her rocky marriage.

The former Spice Girl, who is going through an acrimonious divorce from estranged husband Stephen Belafonte, caused a kerfuffle after music mogul Simon made a dig at her relationship status during Tuesday night’s show. When Simon, who sits alongside Mel on the judging panel, was asked to critique a contestant’s performance that was marred with technical errors, he replied: “I kind of imagine this would be like Mel B’s wedding night. A lot of anticipation, not much promise or delivery.”

Mel then threw her cup of water at Simon, pictured right, then walked out during the live filming.

“Mel B is out. This is live TV, y’all.

This is live TV,” said host Tyra Banks.

Mel eventually returned to her seat to judge the rest of the show but later backstage the mum of three, 42, spoke about the incident: “He should know, if you say something inappropriate he’s gonna get stuff thrown at him. I made sure there was no ice in it this time… just fizzy water.” It has also been reported that Mel called 57-year-old Simon an “a***” backstage and he simply shrugged it off by replying “Whatever”.

However, some viewers weren’t convinced the row was real. Many took to social media to slam the fight as staged prompting the show’s official Twitter page to quickly deny it. “THIS IS LIVE TV, YOU GUYS…” posted the America’s Got Talent account. “That was not planned!”

Mel and Stephen, 42, the father of her five-year-old daughter Madison, will face each other in court on September 25 over her request for a restraining order.

She alleges repeated abusive behaviour by her ex, including one occasion in 2014 that forced her to pull out of judging The X Factor.