Mel B’s ex-husband is suing her for defamation.
The Spice Ladies singer break up from Stephen Belafonte in March 2017 and claimed he had been abusive throughout their 10-year marriage, however now the producer is trying to receive $5 million damages from the ‘Cease’ hitmaker after claiming she “engaged in a deliberate and wide-ranging marketing campaign to trigger him extreme emotional misery and destroy his status.”
In accordance with paperwork filed in Florida on Wednesday (29.05.24) and obtained by PageSix.com, Stephen alleged Mel started her “long-brewing harassment” in 2017 together with her allegations of home violence, which she “dismissed” earlier than he was in a position to have his “day in courtroom”.
The paperwork added: “However, the harm had been executed. On account of Ms. Brown’s false allegations of rape, unlawful gun possession, intercourse trafficking, manufacturing of unlawful pornography, home battery and youngster endangerment, Mr. Belafonte misplaced entry to his house and kids.”
The 49-year-old producer alleged their marriage was tainted by Mel’s “critical substance abuse downside, which included the abuse of cocaine, alcohol and pharmaceuticals”, and famous how he had had major custody of their 12-year-old daughter Madison since 2019, regardless of being portrayed as an “abuser” and a “monster”. Stephen went on to allege the ‘Wannabe’ hitmaker has visited their youngster “solely as soon as” during the last 4 years, regardless of travelling to the US for work.
Stephen went on to accuse Mel of “enriching herself by means of her charity ambassadorship at Girls’s Assist.”
The bombshell lawsuit additionally consists of textual content messages supposedly between Mel and her bandmate Geri Horner, which he claimed confirmed the previous ‘X Issue’ decide’s “true intentions are to leverage her charitable attraction for additional gross sales, movie star and alternative.”
Mel allegedly wrote: “Charity doesn’t pay the payments.”
The reply supposedly from Geri learn: “I hope no one ever hacks your texts!!!!! I consider we must always do one thing good and kicking off with a charity gig can be massively optimistic. The facility of our model is gigantic and all of our work is off the again of it together with Vikki [Victoria Beckham]!!!!!! (sic)”
In response, Mel responded: “Why? My texts are wonderful to me anyhow so no want to fret. Like I mentioned charity doesn’t pay the payments everybody no’s that.(sic)”
The ‘Thank You For Smoking’ producer is in search of $5 million in compensatory damages, in addition to punitive damages and a gagging order in opposition to his ex-wife. He’s additionally in search of a trial by jury.
Sources instructed PageSix Stephen is “not trying to settle” and plans to separate any cash he’s given from the lawsuit with an abuse programme for girls.
A spokesperson for Mel – who additionally has Phoenix, 25, and 17-year-old Angel from earlier relationships – has but to remark.
