When Mel B filed for divorce from her husband of ten years, Stephen Belafonte, many people assumed that there was some kind of domestic abuse involved. Stephen had been arrested for abusing a former partner and once bludgeoned a duck to death with a brick, for which he was given a fine. Plus Mel showed up on the set of X Factor in 2014 with bruises on her face. Something was going on behind the scenes, although both Mel and Stephen denied that there was abuse. In Mel’s request for a restraining order, which was granted yesterday, she details several instances of abuse by Stephen and it’s horrifying. What’s more is that he forced her into threesomes, taped the sex against her will and then threatened to release the tapes if she left him. That explains the threesome story we heard yesterday along with the likely source for that. Oh and Stephen got their nanny pregnant, coerced her into having an abortion and then paid the nanny off with $300k of Mel’s money.
Mel B’s lawyers got a restraining order Monday, forcing Belafonte to stay away from Mel and her 3 kids and ordering him to leave the family home.
In her declaration, Mel B tells a horrific story of abuse. Here are some of her allegations:— November 2007, the night of her “Dancing with the Stars” finale, as she was getting ready at home, she says Stephen placed both of his hands around her neck, began choking her and slammed her down onto the hardwood floors. She says this was the pattern … when she achieved any measure of success, he would “beat me down to let me know he was in charge.”
— July 2012, while she was taping ‘X Factor,’ she was going to tape a segment with Usher, and Belafonte flew into a jealous rage, punched her with a closed fist in the face, splitting her lip. When she asked how she was supposed to work with the injury, he said she should have thought of that before deciding to “flirt with and f*** Usher.”
— August 2012, the day after performing at the closing ceremonies for the London Olympics, he punched her with a closed fist and pushed her down on the carpet. Her skin was burned from being pushed against the carpet and her face “actually scabbed over the rug burns.” He then forced her to tweet out she injured herself by running on 7″ Christian Louboutin heels.
— Mel B claims Stephen got their nanny pregnant. She says he told her he wanted to have the baby and “all three of us live together.” She says Stephen ultimately demanded the nanny get an abortion. She also says Stephen paid the nanny in excess of $300,000 of Mel B’s money “for alleged nanny services.”
— She also says in 2014, she was overcome with “emotional and physical exhaustion” and took an entire bottle of Aspirin. She tried calling 999 and he blocked her, throwing her in the bedroom, locking the door and “telling me to ‘die, bitch!'”
— She says Stephen has sex tapes of her and repeatedly threatened to release them to ruin her career.
— And, she says, he forced her to “participate in sexual intercourse with him and random women” and he would often secretly record the encounters. She says when she tried to resist the 3-ways, he’d threaten to release the sex tapes.
— Mel B says she tried to leave him many times, but he “threatened me with violence and threatened to destroy my life in every possible way … destroy my career and take my kids from me.”
Just reading that makes me sick to my stomach. Mel could have died during that suicide attempt and Stephen actively blocked her attempts to get help! He could have killed her killed her several times over and she was in fear for her life because he kept guns in the house. By the way, ATF agents raided their house for guns over the weekend after a tip. Stephen is not legally allowed to have firearms after his prior domestic violence conviction, but the feds didn’t find anything. Mel claims that Stephen has the gun in a lockbox in the bedroom. My heart goes out to Mel, and to all women in abusive relationships, for enduring his tyranny for so many years. Abuse affects so many women, who endure it silently and soldier on, just trying to survive and keep themselves and their kids safe. Now the word is out about Stephen. If only more women in this situation had a platform like Mel. Often their own family and friends don’t believe them. Abusers are such charming pieces of sh-t.
Photos credit: WENN.com
Mel B has always struck me as so strong and self assured. It Just goes to show that it could happen to anyone.
Her picker has always been broken, though. She rebounded with this jerk right after the fiasco with Eddie Murphy.
My thoughts exactly, I think of her as a no bs type of woman yet she suffered through this for years, it really can happen to anyone. Breaks my heart for her.
too true. sending her good vibes and strength.
what an A-HOLE that guy is.
This is so true. Having been through and eventually escaped from a similar situation myself, I had so many people say things like ‘well this would never happen to me’ or ‘why didn’t you just leave the first time’. It’s not that simple. The mind games and control keep you there and it doesn’t matter who you are, it can happen to anyone. I hope Mel is ok and it’s high profile stories like hers and Amber Heard’s which help people to understand the situation.
I’m so glad you said that, because people are always like “well you stayed so you must have liked being abused or you got something out of it,” or, “well you stayed so it must not be true,” kind of bs.
Sometimes people just genuinely don’t understand n sometimes people are just assholes who say stupid shit
As women it’s so hard to detect that slow erosion into our independence that gradually normalizes abuse- We have been programmed to feel “less than” a man for generations. We also learned to think we are “less than” if we choose to live single. Single needs to be okay culturally- yes I date- but I want independence and Peace.
Her first husband was blatantly with her for the money. He treated her appallingly, too.
I think sometimes when a first serious relationship makes someone feel that worthless it can make women keep accepting the same from subsequent men. Each new dent to their self esteem makes them likelier to miss red flags and less likely to refuse to take crap. And then people pontificate that they ‘choose’ abusive men, instead of prior abuse leaving them damaged, so they lack the confidence and self-belief to spot them a mile away. Yet another form of victim blaming.
Good point.
Truth. Thank you, K
I just binged the entire season of Big Little Lies yesterday and then read today’s CB posts on the series, now reading this about dear Mel B. It was so devastatingly obvious at the X Factor when there was clearly a bruise down one side of her face. Everyone tried to pretend it wasn’t happening. Why does that happen? It’s so isolating for the person in the midst of it….All of this media is making me really reflective about my own past and also how early patterns we experience set the stage for the future. Our synapses and systems are built to create loops, grooves of information. Just like with a groove in a record, the needle or the path follows the groove. It’s hard to break out of that. Holistic hypnosis is wonderful for healing and rewriting the synapses. I’m a fan.
I have a lump in my throats and feel shaken from reading all that. What this woman went through! I am so glad she is away and getting the protection she needs, and I wish her all the support and therapeutic healing in the world.
I wonder if her stomach lining is permanently damaged from the suicide attempt, and I wonder how she survived it? That is so horrifying.
What is going on with Mel’s upper upper thigh in that red dress that Stephen is pointing to? I thought it was a flesh colored thong at first but it’s not.
Pretty sure that’s just her skin and he’s pointing to how much thigh is showing.
Yeah I know what he’s doing. I just used him pointing as a reference so others would know what pic I was referring to because there are two pics of her in a red dress.
Subject change. So glad she got away from this not so cute version of Jesse Williams.
I have fairly similar skintone to Mel B and that line looks a bit like an healed scar I’ve got, and the positioning suggests an abdominal surgery or injury of some type or perhaps a cesarean scar.
This douche needs something very terrible to happen to him, hopefully prison, and a beatdown!
Punish violence with violence?
Yes, it is sad isn’t it!
But some people only speak the
Language of violence. . .
What’s your suggestion? I am so curious.
Rather dismissive attitude, Capepopsie. What about those born into it, who have never had the chance to know anything else? Or those that had it thrust upon without hope. What about those being attacked or mugged? Or the desperate that lash out as a last defense? What about those that only know that language? There are many that deal with violence every day of their life without choice.
Lady D: in your opinion, does he make the difference between right and wrong? Do not generalize or talk theory.
What a dirt bag, with his wife beating fingers aimed at her crotch. Repulsive. And killing a duck with a brick: animal abusers usually move on to people.
when I read that (about the duck), that’s when I knew what kind of person he was. frankly, this abuse story is not at all surprising. the level of abuse is shocking, to be sure…but that it happened is not.
Stay strong, Mel B!
He apparently punched her dog at some point too.
jeez, what an absolute monster. I hope he goes to jail.
Wow I’m so sorry to hear this. I’m just so happy she got out .
He always screamed POS to me. I feel horrible for Mel and everything she’s gone through. She always seems so tough and strong. I hope she nails him to the wall.
How fitting that he’s making the “loser” sign in every picture. what a POS.
Omg this is just shocking. Poor Mel B. He is literally a piece of garbage. I am glad she is breaking free of this horrible man.
I feel sick to my stomach from reading this. She is so brave for speaking out!
I’m always baffled at the women who look at these situations and say stuff like “that would never happen to me, I wouldn’t allow it, I’m tough.” If they only knew. Poor Mel. I hope she’s okay and safe now. That man is a monster.
If you want a reason to top yourself on the spot, head over to the daily mail comments on this story. Repulsive.
A few years ago I was involved with an abusive POS for several months & it was a constant living hell. When I finally decided to leave him, I knew just leaving wasn’t going to be easy, I literally had to move to another state to get away from him which I did for several months. I later told some close family & they were beyond shock, not that he was a pos but that I actually stood with him for 10 months & dealt with it. I could never in all my life ever imagine living in that kind of hell for a decade, then again, I never thought I’d ever live it at all. Im so glad she’s speaking up & is escaping his abusive clutches. it’s scary that they have children together, that means hell never really be out of her life. I wish her the best in this situation
I’m so sorry that someone did that to you and that you had to live through it.
and GOOD ON YOU for getting out. stay strong, lady.
I am so sorry you went through that and happy you got out!!!
This scenario terrifies me for my daughter and girlfriends (I know it also happens to men but statistically speaking…) When you are awash in hormones and have been conditioned to “stand by your man” people will tolerate such savagery from their intimate partner.
And I fully believe that it is the same wash of hormones that triggers the abuser to lash out in the ways they do. We need to do better.
And I wish you the best as well! You are a survivor and a warrior to all of those who think they can’t leave!!
I really appreciate your words, all! I am in such a great & safe place again & I wish that for Mel B., her kids, & every woman, girl, & person experiencing evil chaos in their lives
Well done Chelly- so happy you made it through the other side. Seriously well done for getting out after a few months, I was in it for 5 years and a child and I really admire your strength to leave early!
I feel so bad for her. I’m sure a lot of the things that she did were for her kids and their safety.
I don’t know why I became so enraged when I read this but I feel like organizing a big womens’ march for Mel B and all the women like her; and then ending the march with me marching my foot right up his a** or over his little shiny head. The part that stuck out for me was he would beat her down as she achieved any measure of success (yet he had no problem spending that “success” money). My bff (beautiful, strong, educated) was in a similar situation and I didn’t know until one night she broke down on the phone. We had to plan carefully and strategically to get her and her child out of her home. Till this day I get enraged thinking that loser still walks the earth. Domestic violence does not discriminate and affects all walks of life. Major kudos, hugs, and love to Mel B for speaking out.
My god, this is horrific and makes my stomach hurt for her, and her children. I hope he somehow gets jail for some of these, I’m sure he’s still attempting to control and abuse her too. He’s disgusting and pathetic!
So true…and it will take her a long time to really extricate herself enough to feel safe at all. She has a child with him and they were together over ten years so the branch is deeply rooted…
:…(
For anyone reading who needs help in Ireland 1800 341 900 Women’s Aid provide support for those in danger from domestic violence.
I am glad Mel got herself and her daughters out of this situation. I wish them all well.
Good idea, ZP. In America you can call 1-800-799-7233 The National Domestic Violence Hotline. The website is: http://www.thehotline.org/
This is so awful.. I KNEW it too This guy has this SH*t wafting off of him So I just felt from the moment she said she was leaving him that this was going to come to light, God Bless her for putting her foot down and protecting herself and her Babies!
I commend his brother for dropping a dime on him.
What did his brother do? All I could find was his brother telling people they had an open relationship and saying things like “he’s not a bad guy, but…”
ETA: I read some more stuff, he seems to have just sold his story to tabloids. He didn’t do anything to get Mel’s dog away from Stephen after he saw him punch it, so he can rot for all I care.
He called the police and told them about the guns he’s not supposed to have.
Really enjoy her. Get strong!!!!! Move on!!!!
Shocking and horrific. Sending good vibes and strength to Mel B…we support you!
I feel for any woman in this position. However, I could not have all that money and let that slime-ball get away with it. I would have called Eddie (Murphy, daddy to Angel) and had Eddie get someone to take care of his sick ass. I would have found a way to teach his ass a lesson.
The same Eddie Murphy who left her when pregnant and then told the tabloids the baby wasn’t his? The same one she had to chase for years to see and take responsibility of Iris Angel? THAT Eddie Murphy? :-/
Off topic slightly but ‘Iris Angel’ is a lovely name.
My heart goes to her. Hope she feels safe now and presses charges against him. This story broke my heart into tiny pieces.
This is why I always tell my girlfriends to call me at any given time even if it is just to talk, and I’ll always be there and will believe them. It takes one person to throw you a lifeline to hold onto.
This breaks my heart, but I’m SO GLAD she’s well shot of him and I really, really hope this POS goes to jail. He’s evil.
I never really liked Mel (she was insufferable and mean in a UK quiz show she was on two years ago or so), but I feel so sorry for her. Hope she’ll pull through this and feels safer now!
When he killed that duck just because he was felt like it? For me, violence towards animals would be a red flag that would send me running.
Right??! I literally would walk away if/when I found that out, no reasons or explanation necessary. To even keep contact with someone who *beat something to death* is mind-boggling.
That’s what I don’t get. I mean, he abused his ex too. How could any woman look at a man like that and think, “I really love him”?
For sure!! I’m probably going to be told I’m felony-shaming or what have you, but provided she didn’t know ahead of time…really?! I’m almost willing to forgive a petty crime or a non-violent one….
~maaaaaaybe~
but to know that??!! And then the duck thing?? Plus the name change…like , red flags galore.
And this is why I stay far away from men. They are just not worth it.
Really??! This is your response to domestic violence.
That’s not really fair because there are really good men out there…and some have been domestic abuse victims as well.
This is turning out worse that I thought.
Jeesh poor her, no wonder her family were frantic
Been there,never forget it. I hope he goes to jail. Let’s see how tough he is when he isn’t beating on a woman. Bastard.
This explains a lot—the bruises and her unwillingness to leave. I am glad she found the strength to finally leave him. Horrifying is putting it mildly.
He has always struck me as slimy!! I hope she doesn’t go back. Reading this made my stomach turn.
Hers girls have probably witnessed some awful ish with this creeper around. Hopefully they will all get counseling.
Fraud Belafonte wanna be!
Horrible. I hope her kids are alright–what a terrible situation to live in. I remember years ago her having bruises on her face on X Factor or some show, clearly inflicted by this POS.
This dude had a shady past to begin with.
I’m shocked these celebrities never have these people’s past investigated before bringing them around their children.
One red flag should be enough.
Protect yourself and your family.
Sadly I don’t think this is the first instance she has suffered domestic violence. I was a mega Spice Girls fan as a kid in the 90s and vaguely remembered hearing that she got pregnant and got married to some guy (the father of her oldest child). I thought she divorced the guy because he physically abused her? Or maybe it was just one instance of an argument that went too far and he hit her, not too sure of the details. But I feel like this is not the first time Mel has encountered physical violence in relationships, but this one sounds like the scariest by far. Hopefully her next relationship, if there is one, is with a chill, calm, no drama partner.
(Also googled her because I wasn’t too familiar with her past relationships and seems she has also dated women in the past. I know in this day and age that’s not some huge revelation but it surprised me for some reason, since I only knew about her relationships with men).
I remember reading that Stephen treated her older daughter badly and that was the reason the family didn’t like him. All those years of denying the abuse and disowning her family for him when what they said was true. If a man doesn’t accept and treat your kids right that’s sign to leave him alone.
He basically told her she was out of there when she turned 16. She in turn left when she was 15. Probably the best thing for her. I just read this today, cant remember where.
Dear god.. this is just so awful, it actually made me shiver. I really feel for her and hope she destroys him in court.
There is the restraining order, meaning protection for Mel and her children, good. How about legal action re: his violent actions against her? Physical and emotional, blackmail?
TMZ has the whole report online..O.M.G.
Dude is a monster and she has every right to be afraid for her life. Holy..Shit.
Read the report..what this woman went thru..is nothing short of what Tina went through with Ike Turner.
There’s even more than what’s here? It’s already horrifying. Hopefully she and her family won’t have to deal with him anymore. He needs to be in jail for as long as possible.
I teared about when I read the part about her father. Stay strong, Mel B and be safe.
Oh yes, much much more.
He might have even hid her passport so as to delay her visiting her dying father.
I hope she and the kids stay safe and have a strong support system.
The sad fact is that he is such an extreme loser and that the only way he could feel better was to beat her. And sadder is that her self worth is so low.