Mel B's former husband is suing her for defamation. The Spice Girls singer split from Stephen Belafonte in March 2017 and claimed he had been abusive during their 10-year marriage, but now the producer is looking to obtain $US5 million ($A7.5 million) damages from the hitmaker after claiming she "engaged in a deliberate and wide-ranging campaign to cause him severe emotional distress and destroy his reputation".
According to documents filed in Florida on Wednesday and obtained by PageSix.com, Belafonte alleged Mel B (Melanie Brown) began her "long-brewing harassment" in 2017 with her allegations of domestic violence, which she "dismissed" before he was able to have his "day in court". The documents added: "Nevertheless, the damage had been done.
As a result of Ms. Brown's false allegations of rape, illegal gun possession, sex trafficking, production of illegal pornography, domestic battery and child endangerment, Mr. Belafonte lost access to his home and children.
" Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion. The 49-year-old producer alleged their marriage was tainted by Brown's "serious substance abuse problem, which included the abuse of cocaine, alcohol and prescription drugs", and noted how he had had primary custody of their 12-year-old daughter Madison since 2019, despite being portrayed as an "abuser" and a "monster". Belafonte went on to allege Brown has visited their child "only once" over the last four years, despite travelli.