MEL B MUST PAY EX HUBBY £30K A MONTH
BLOW IN DIVORCE BATTLE
MEL B has been ordered to pay £30,000 a month to her estranged husband who she claims regularly beat her in jealous rages.
A judge told her she must also make a separate payment of £106,920 to Stephen Belafonte to cover his legal bills in their bitter divorce.
The ruling comes despite Mel claiming her ex “squandered” most of her multi-million pound fortune during their 10-year marriage.
In legal papers filed in Los Angeles on Friday, Belafonte’s lawyers said he needs the temporary monthly spousal support to pay for “basic needs” such as rent, food and phone costs.
But last night the star’s mum showed her support for her daughter on social media by saying she is glad she is now “safe”.
Andrea Brown said on Twitter: “Have 2 b thankful my daughter alive after 10yrs of worry she’s finally safe. more important than money.”
Fans also jumped to Mel’s defence on the site.
One blasted Belafonte, a small-time Hollywood producer and co-owner of a restaurant, saying: “Some people don’t make that a year! He needs to get a job and support his children like any real man! Imagine sponging off your ex PATHETIC.”
Another added: “For the emotional, psychological and mental abuse he put her through, HE should be the one being punished. This is promoting abuse.” The judge did refuse to impose an order on Mel, 42, requiring her to speed up the sale of the £6.8m matrimonial home in the Hollywood Hills. Belafonte, who is banned from the property under a temporary restraining order, has accused his wife of holding up the sale by preventing estate agents from showing it to prospective buyers. The couple have been locked in a bitter legal battle since March when the former Spice Girl filed for divorce. In court documents she claimed Belafonte, 42, physically abused her, forced her to take part in threesomes and fathered a child with the nanny of their five-year-old daughter Madison. Since then, it has been reported that Mel, who earns £190,000 a month as a judge on America’s Got Talent, has “blown through” most of her personal fortune. A source close to the singer said last night: “She’s disappointed but the spousal support order is temporary and she will be seeking her own financial relief from the court.” In his verdict, Judge Lawrence Riff wrote: “The court has considered carefully Brown’s allegations she suffered serious, debilitating abuse at the hands of Belafonte resulting in bodily injury and profound emotional distress.” But he added Belafonte had also entered a sworn declaration “categorically and emphatically” denying the claims.