Yesterday we heard that Mel B, Scary Spice from the Spice Girls and a judge on America’s Got Talent, had been abused by her husband of ten years, Stephen Belafonte. The details in Mel’s request for a restraining order included repeated incidents of severe physical abuse, emotional abuse, threats of ruining her career by releasing sex tapes and sexual coercion. Stephen had even gotten their nanny pregnant and paid her off with Mel’s money. It was heartbreaking and brought it home that anyone can be a victim of abuse, and that it can go on for years without people close to the victim realizing what’s going on, or the extent of it. In Mel’s case there were multiple incidents which her friends and coworkers knew about and could not convince her to get help for, which is typical for abusive situations. Her wealth and fame may have kept people from acting to protect her, however that surely happens to victims of all socioeconomic backgrounds. TMZ has a story about how Mel covered up the abuse and asked friends not to report it, because she was afraid for her life and her children’s lives.
Multiple sources close to Mel B tell us … a close circle of friends and family didn’t believe her when she explained away various injuries, and when they confronted her, she had trouble hiding what she now says is the truth … that she was being viciously attacked by Belafonte.
We’re told some of the people who confronted her said they were going to call the cops and report him, but she became emotional and begged them to stand down, and not just because she was in fear for her life. She believed anyone who blew the whistle on Belafonte would become his target as well.
As we reported, people who were on various TV shows with Mel B were aware of a slew of injuries she suffered and they also saw Belafonte on the set and witnessed what some called his abusive and threatening behavior. Yet, as far as we can tell — and this is consistent with her declaration — no one from any show ever called the cops to report alleged domestic violence.
People Magazine has quotes from a domestic violence expert who explains that this is typical and that victims often try to hide the abuse for fear of it escalating. Mel also rightfully feared for her children. Stephen started a relationship with their 20 year-old German nanny, pitting the nanny against Mel and using the relationship to drive a wedge between Mel and her children. In the restraining order posted on TMZ, Mel reveals that when she was in the hospital recovering from a suicide attempt (which Stephen blocked her from getting help for, telling her to “die bitch”) the nanny took their children with her to Germany from the US and then to London. It was only after the authorities got involved that the nanny came back with them to LA. All of this was done with Mel’s money too. Stephen stole millions from her including over $300k to pay off the nanny, who aborted Stephen’s child, and $325k to pay back child support to his first wife. He was able to get the money by logging into Mel’s email account and communicating with her accountant to approve expenditures. There’s even more in the document, including a car break in that Stephen staged to scare Mel and excessive harassment and monitoring by Stephen.
Mel finally got the courage to leave Stephen after the death of her father last month. Stephen was exceptionally cruel to her around that time and stole her passport so she couldn’t fly to visit her father on his deathbed. She was able to get an emergency passport and be with her father in London for his final days, but that was the catalyst for her to leave him. Of course Stephen threatened to release the sex tapes and ruin Mel’s career.
The clock may be running out for that POS Stephen. Over the weekend ATF agents raided his house for guns, which he is legally prohibited from owning following a domestic violence conviction in 2003. While they didn’t find any firearms, they did find a bullet and an empty shell casing. Plus testimony from Mel and from others that he owned a gun may be enough to put him away. Here’s hoping that he faces jail time. This story just makes me sick to my stomach and I hope Mel has good friends and family around her at this time.
This photo is from 12-31-16:
Photos credit: PRPhotos
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLHLnpmirJOdxm%2BvzqZmbmtgaIN1e8yeo5iao5SyuavHmpuYrJiarK%2BtzaewmKyRoLKgtMSrlpygmaGxs7HNmJibqp%2BWsaC%2F06ijnpednrmttc6nqmg%3D