THE TRUTH ABOUT HER TV MELTDOWN

Simon Cowell is known for playfully needling people. But on the Aug. 22 episode of America’s Got Talent, he took it too far. “I kind of imagine this would be like Mel B’s wedding night,” Simon told the show’s studio audience — and its nearly 13 million viewers — after watching a lackluster performance. “A lot of anticipation, not much promise or delivery.” Visibly upset by the dig, Mel stood up, tossed a cup of ice water in Simon’s face and stormed off set. “Mel B is out,” host Tyra Banks said as the crowd cheered in support of the former Spice Girl. “This is live TV, y’all. Live TV!”

The joke was hurtful, especially coming from Simon. Since splitting from her husband, Stephen Belafonte, in March, “Mel has had Simon as a big part of her support system,” a close friend tells In Touch, adding that the singer has “been to hell and back” over the last few months. “Mel puts on a happy face in public, but behind the scenes her life has been a mess — and Simon knows

the attention was on Mel and threw a fit. “Mel told Simon to ‘get over yourself’ and Simon rolled his eyes. Not long after that is when Simon made the joke about Mel’s wedding night.” Mel later called Simon’s remark “so rude and

inappropriate.” But she doesn’t blame only him. “Before the show, the writers give everyone a list of jokes to use. Mel had no idea that the writers had written the joke for Simon. She feels betrayed,” says the friend, explaining that AGT has been her safe haven these last few months. “Mel can handle jokes about her diva ways and over-thetop personality, but feels like anything regarding her marriage and divorce should be off-limits right now.” that.” Even though the joke was penned for Simon, 57, by one of the show’s writers, Mel “couldn’t believe he would choose to mock her personal life on live TV,” adds the source. “She was upset and had to let him know that it wasn’t OK.” But was the American Idol alum just out for revenge? “Earlier in the show, a young girl named Evie Clair dedicated her performance to her father who had died of cancer,” says the friend. Mel, who lost her own father to cancer in March, got very emotional. “During the break, producers came up to Mel and complimented her for keeping it together so well.” Simon, who is used to having the producers fawn all over him, didn’t like that