MEL B BACK TO X FACTOR
Simon wants to help her through divorce battle
MEL B could return to X Factor as old pal Simon Cowell helps her pull through her divorce battle.
Simon, 57, has watched in alarm as Mel, 41, has endured a torrid year of sex and violence smears as her divorce fight with Stephen Belafonte intensifies.
Sources say Simon wants to keep Mel at least happy in showbusiness.
So he is lining her up to replace US singer Nicole Scherzinger, 38, as a judge if the former Pussycat Doll does not sign up for another year.
It is thought that Nicole could ditch the ITV talent show after being tipped to play the lead role of Elphaba in a Hollywood movie version of the stage musical Wicked.
Mel, an X Factor judge in 2014, would be Simon’s first choice to take over.
A source said: “Simon has got a massive soft spot for Mel and just wants to see her happy and doing well, especially given what is going on in her private life.”
Simon has been pals with the former Spice Girl for years. And she is now working beside him on America’s Got Talent. He is said to have been a pillar of support since Mel filed for divorce from Belafonte, 41. It is claimed Simon arranged for Mel to see specialist lawyers and stay at a hotel after an alleged overdose in 2014.
Since revelations of her split broke, Simon has spoken glowingly of Mel.
He said: “If you think about how hard she works and how I saw her try to handle this situation, it was astonishing.
“She’s under pressure but she’s in a good place. She’s an incredible person.” In court papers, Mel alleged Belafonten nte choked and beat her and forced her t to join in threesomes and he paid for a an abortion for nanny Lorraine Gillies, 26 26.6.
In other papers, filed last week, Lorainein ne is suing Mel for defamation, saying sh shehe willingly took part in threesomes with th thehe pair over seven years and adding Me Mel el would film her having sex with Belafonte. e.
This week Mel’s lawyer also claimed d Belafonte ran porn sites.
His lawyer described all of Mel’ss allegations as a “smear campaign”.