They were fire and ice... one minute pure adoration, the next all-out war
Mel B is said to have ended her turbulent marriage to Stephen Belafonte after a “moment of clarity” as she healed a 10-year family rift and lost her dad to cancer.
Sources claim the final straw for the former Spice Girl was a string of blazing rows over her £40million fortune.
Insiders who worked with Mel on her US TV shows said the split was no surprise as the couple spent most of their time “squabbling” and “bickering” amid accusations of affairs and flirting.
And the Mirror can reveal they spent half their marriage in therapy as they desperately tried to make things work.
A TV executive in Los Angeles said last night: “They started from the beginning when they realised they were very different people, who would argue and row. Their personalities were like fire and ice, one minute it was pure adoration and the next it was all-out war.
“It led to them having blow-out arguments non-stop. However, as they got further down the line, the stress of keeping things together proved too much. The therapy prompted more fights and bitterness. Their connection by the end was all but burned out.”
Mel, 41, fell out with her family when they told her of their concerns over Belafonte ahead of their 2007 wedding.
There were fears for her three years ago when she turned up for The X Factor panel one Sunday in the UK with bruises and scratches on her face and arms. Belafonte, 41, denied assaulting her.
As their relationship failed, Mel was reconciled with her family after dad Martin made a plea. Earlier this month, she posted a snap of her and sister Danielle, 36, holding his hand after he lost a five-year battle with myeloma cancer.
Sources said Mel’s loss was compounded by a series of rows with her film producer hubby over cash. An insider said: “Ever since they got married, they have been plagued with problems. The writing has been on the wall for a while.
“Money was at the centre of many rows but Martin’s passing provided a moment of complete clarity for Mel.
“For the first time in a decade, she decided to put blood before water.
“Stephen was always coming up with business ideas which caused huge arguments. It is no secret her family didn’t like him and now she has reconnected with them, Mel is sorting out her life. She’s had enough of the chaos with Stephen. Her, the kids and her family come first.”
Belafonte referred to Mel’s family as “the cutoff crew” on Twitter after Martin reached out to her. Speaking in 2012, Martin said: “I just want to speak to her, so I know those children are happy.
“If she wants this strange relationship, that’s her choice. She’s my daughter and I love her to bits.”
Mel started dating Belafonte in February 2007 and they wed four months later in Las Vegas and renewed their vows in Egypt in 2008. But Scary Spice, whose real name is Melanie Brown, filed divorce papers in Los Angeles Superior
Court on Monday, citing irreconcilable differences.
The Leeds-born star listed the date of separation as December 28 and asked for joint legal and physical custody of daughter Madison, five.
Mel, who also has daughters Angel Iris, nine, with Hollywood actor Eddie Murphy and Phoenix Chi, 18, with her former backing dancer Jimmy Gulzar, is bidding to terminate the court’s ability to award spousal support – hinting at the alleged money rows.
The star was seen arriving at the Hollywood Hills home she had shared with Belafonte at 10.20am yesterday as she dropped Madison off.
She then drove to Beverly Hills, where Phoenix got out to pick up coffee. Mel looked anguished and could be seen texting. In February last year, Mel had said in a gushing Instagram post: “We have been through everything that would normally tear couples apart and come out on the other side stronger.
“You loved me before I even new [sic] how to really love myself, you are my world honey and let’s not forget you are abit [sic] of a d**khead too.”
Last week, she posted: “You have to be at your strongest when you’re feeling at your weakest.” Pals have said Mel told them several times in the last couple of years “she was done”. And they said the couple would act for cameras to “pretend their marriage was strong”.
The TV source said Belafonte, who in 2003 admitted a domestic charge linked to then-girlfriend Nicole Contreras, often shocked TV workers with crude outbursts on and off set.
One model, who would not be named, even claimed that in recent weeks Stephen has been “acting like a single man”.
The LA TV executive said: “Mel was incredibly open about their fights and arguments in front of staff on America’s Got Talent and other shows. She’d have screaming matches with him on the phone or even at the studio.
“It was so bizarre, as they didn’t appear to show any love, care or even respect at times.
“She has dropped F-bombs galore and called him all the names under the sun. He too had the mouth of a sailor, saying inappropriate things to her in front of researchers and assistants. He would make rude statements about her body and having sex with her. It is a surprise they stayed together so long.
“He always acted like he was her manager and supervisor, which seemed an unusual mix, given he really had little experience. It was like he inserted himself into her business just to make himself look busy.”
Problems may have been brought to a head by the couple’s busy workloads, which gave them little time together recently.
Mel had a full schedule on America’s Got Talent last year, while eyeing a Spice Girls reunion and performing in Chicago on Broadway in New York.
Meanwhile, Belafonte has been trying to carve out a new career as a restaurateur in Los Angeles.
The source said: “There was a bigger rift growing as they ended up living separate lives.
“He ended up spending days and nights at his Italian restaurant, Serafina, acting like this huge star.”
Last month, Mel’s publicist played down reports Belafonte was caught holding hands with a brunette at STK restaurant in New York.
The couple have also been dogged by rumours that they invited other women into their bedroom.
The TV insider said: “Nothing would surprise me.”
He acted like he was her manager at times... just to make himself look busy TV INSIDER WHO WITNESSED THEIR VOLATILE RELATIONSHIP