Mel’s ex says ‘booze issue makes her unfit mum’
MEL B and former husband Stephen Belafonte had a nasty face-off in court after he accused her of being so addicted to booze she is an unfit mum.
Yesterday the film producer, 43, went before a judge in Los Angeles seeking custody of their child Madison as well as Mel’s daughter Angel, 11, by star Eddie Murphy.
Mel, 43, has agreed to drug and alcohol testing.
Also at court was Rusty Updegraff, Mel’s former friend who has given a statement saying she has an issue with alcohol.
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Updegraff has claimed the former Spice Girl hits the bottle at 10am with beer then spirits including vodka, tequila and gin.
He claims she passes out and he has bought her 12 bottles of wine, two bottles of vodka and one to two 12-packs of beer, which she drinks in four to five days.
Updegraff claims Mel leaves Angel, who turns seven today, and Madison, scared and even claimed she has been abusive.
He alleges Mel has been addicted to cocaine but alcohol is the problem.
Mel was supported in LA Superior court by her hairdresser pal Gary Madatyan and lawyer Taline Boyamian.
Inside the courtroom, Scary Spice sipped from a flask but joked to reporters: “It’s coffee.”
Yesterday Judge Mark Juhas said they would resume on Tuesday.
A source close to Mel said: “Rusty was a friend and had nothing but praise for her as a parent.”
Rusty said: “I’m just here for the children.”
This week Mel said she was going into rehab.