WHY MEL B WALKED AWAY
Why life with Stephen was ‘Too Much’
Just a few weeks ago, former Spice Girl Melanie Brown took to Instagram to declare her love for husband Stephen Belafonte. “My everything, my life, my world, love you to the end and back,” she gushed alongside a photo of them celebrating their 10-year anniversary. But now, after a moment of clarity in the wake of her father’s death, the mum-of-three has finally called time on her toxic marriage and filed for divorce. “Their personalities were like fire and ice – one minute it was pure adoration and the next it was all-out war,” reveals a source close to the star. Scary Spice Mel, 41, is said to be an emotional wreck, but she’s told friends this time it’s for real and she knows she’s doing the right thing. The decision comes just two weeks after her dad Martin
died following a five-year cancer battle and we’re told spending time with her estranged family in the UK led her to re-evaluate her life.
“Seeing her dad slip away and being near her mum Andrea and sister Danielle have been hugely emotional for Mel,” tells our source. “It’s made her realise the importance of blood ties and face up to the fact she’s been locked in a horrible marriage for far too long. Everything has finally become clear.”
Mel and Stephen’s union has been punctuated by rumours of violence, jealousy and affairs. It’s believed they had an open relationship, taking part in wild foursomes together and boasting of their insatiable sex life. “He’s my baby boo. I married my best friend and he’s as hot as anything, so it’s good,” the
America’s Got Talent judge told Woman’s Day last year.
Abuse claims
But behind closed doors, Stephen is said to have been controlling towards his wife, encouraging her to cut ties with family and close friends. In 2003, he was accused of battering his ex-wife Nicole Contreras and four years later, he admitted killing a duck with a brick outside his home.
In 2014, his brother Jeremiah Stansbury blasted the film producer as “violent” and “ruthless”, and urged Mel to leave him. He also claimed the couple have no prenuptial agreement, and are obsessed with sex and pornography.
“Mel’s family and most of her friends couldn’t stand Stephen from the beginning,” tells our source. “They thought he was dangerous and vile, and that’s what led to their falling out. They tried to make Mel see sense and make her leave him, but she chose him. It broke their hearts.”
At the end of 2014, Mel was hospitalised after she appeared on The X Factor UK with bruises and scratches. She and Stephen vehemently denied domestic abuse claims, but soon after they are said to have split, albeit briefly.
“Mel walked away a few times over the years, but something always drew her back,” reveals our source. “It was like she was addicted to him, even though she knew deep down that it wasn’t right.”
Reports have emerged that Stephen, who’s the father of Mel’s five-year-old daughter Madison, never paid for anything in the course of their decade-long marriage, which caused endless rows. The former pop star, who is also mum to Phoenix, 18, and Angel, nine, is now doing all she can to protect her $80 million fortune.
She’s enlisted top celebrity divorce lawyer Susan Wiesner to fight for her, but Mel’s petrified about what Stephen – who was spotted last week with a mystery woman – will do to get back at her.
“She knows how volatile and spiteful he can be,” says our source. “She’s scared he’ll do a tell-all interview to try to destroy her so she’s desperate to slap him with a gagging order.”
In a desperate attempt to take the anger out of their divorce, late last week, Mel convinced Stephen to attend a family-therapy session with her three daughters.
The LA-based star is leaning on her Spice Girl BFF Geri Horner, who helped her build up the courage to leave, as well as singer Adam Lambert.
“Mel and Adam are incredibly close after working as judges on The X Factor Australia, and he’s become her rock,” explains our source. “She says she doesn’t know how she’d be getting through this without him.”
Now she’s planning to sell the family home and move to Malibu with her kids to rebuild their lives. But she’s also keen to buy a home in the UK so she can start afresh with her family.
Says our source, “The death of her dad made her realise how precious time is and she doesn’t want to waste it. She’s determined that her girls will finally spend time with their grandma, aunty and cousins.
“She knows this is going to be a long road and this split is extremely acrimonious, so she has a bitter fight ahead of her. But she’s determined to get the divorce signed and sealed as quickly as possible so she can move on with her life. She’s strong, so she’ll get through this.”