EXCLUSIVE: Another blow for Mel B as Spice Girl's close friend Gary Madatyan accuses her of abuse claiming she used him as her 'personal piggy bank' and stiffed him out of $200,000 before firing him, in bombshell lawsuit
- Gary Madatyan, 40, developed a close friendship with Mel B after meeting the star while working as a hair and wardrobe stylist in 2017
- In a lawsuit filed on Thursday and obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, he accuses the singer of abuse as well as stealing and failing to pay him back $200k
- He says he served as her live-in personal assistant, butler, hair stylist, manager, life coach, nanny and 'jack-of-all-trades' before she fired him in March
- Madatyan also claims Mel's psychiatrist Dr Charles Sophy pressured him to lie to help sway her custody battle with her ex husband Stephen Belafonte
- Dr Sophy is also accused of illegally prescribing amphetamine salts to Mel using Madatyan's name without his consent
Mel B's close friend and confidante Gary Madatyan has turned on the Spice Girl after growing sick of being 'used and abused' by the out-of-control star, bombshell court documents reveal.
Gary - who Mel praises in her autobiography - accuses the star of refusing to return $200,000 of money she took from him and not paying him properly during two years of employment.
But in more shocking claims, Gary accuses Mel's personal physician, Dr Charles Sophy, of trying to help his celebrity client sway her custody battle with her ex husband Stephen Belafonte.
In the court documents filed Thursday, he claims Dr Sophy 'yelled and berated' him to 'lie' to the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services - where the physician serves as the Medical Director - about Belafonte's treatment of his and Mel's children.
![Speaking out: Gary Madatyan, 40, has turned on former best friend Mel B claiming the star abused him and took advantage of him during their friendship, in a new lawsuit](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/25/21/18934142-7505027-image-a-49_1569444568091.jpg)
Speaking out: Gary Madatyan, 40, has turned on former best friend Mel B claiming the star abused him and took advantage of him during their friendship, in a new lawsuit
![Gary and Mel appeared to be inseparable since 2017 - when the two first met. He revealed Mel fired him unceremoniously earlier this year](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/26/13/18940974-7505027-image-a-1_1569499733601.jpg)
Gary and Mel appeared to be inseparable since 2017 - when the two first met. He revealed Mel fired him unceremoniously earlier this year
Gary, 40, refused to lie, the suit claims, but nonetheless felt 'grievously intimidated' and by early 2019 had built the courage to confront Mel, 44, about this behavior and 'warn her about Dr Sophy and his influence over her.'
The shocking claim casts doubt on whether Mel was entirely truthful during her protracted divorce and custody battle with ex Belafonte.
In other bombshell claims, Gary accuses Beverly Hills psychiatrist Dr Sophy of illegally prescribing highly addictive amphetamine salts to Mel using his name without consent.
DailyMail.com has reached out to both Mel B and Dr Sophy for comment regarding the newly filed lawsuit.
The star has been publicly accused of battling alcohol and drug addiction and her close relationship with Dr Sophy, 58, is well documented.
Dr Sophy acted as marriage therapist for years in Mel's marriage to Stephen Belafonte.
The lawsuit - filed by leading civil rights attorney Ben Meiselas of Los Angeles based Geragos & Geragos - claims that Gary 'suffered severe emotional distress' after finding out Dr Sophy - described as a 'self-styled celebrity psychiatrist' in the suit - had placed him in a 'criminal light' by prescribing the drugs to Mel in his name.
'Defendant Dr Sophy's conduct was extreme and outrageous and beyond the bounds of human decency,' the suit states.
And in a series of text messages included as exhibits in the LA Superior Court filing Gary confronts Dr Sophy over the fake prescriptions.
![Madatyan, who is of Armenian descent and whose full name in the suit is Poghos Karen 'Gary' Madatyan, says he he served as Mel's live-in personal assistant, butler, hair stylist, manager, life coach, nanny and 'jack-of-all-trades'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/26/13/18962192-7505027-image-m-13_1569500482483.jpg)
Madatyan, who is of Armenian descent and whose full name in the suit is Poghos Karen 'Gary' Madatyan, says he he served as Mel's live-in personal assistant, butler, hair stylist, manager, life coach, nanny and 'jack-of-all-trades'
![Mel and her family are featured on Gary's Instagram in virtually every photo. Above they are pictured at a basketball game](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/26/13/18962194-7505027-Mel_and_her_family_are_featured_on_Gary_s_Instagram_in_virtually-a-48_1569502130555.jpg)
Mel and her family are featured on Gary's Instagram in virtually every photo. Above they are pictured at a basketball game
![The suit states Mel 'preyed' on Gary's 'empathy' and his 'desire to get her healthy' and expanded his role so he was at her beck and call](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/26/13/18941270-7505027-image-m-20_1569501263389.jpg)
![Gary has been photographed by Mel's side on an almost daily basis this past two years, appearing at almost every one of her court appearances, celebrity engagements and public events, partying with her and was a regular backstage on America's Got Talent while Mel was a judge](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/26/13/18941224-7505027-image-a-21_1569501277876.jpg)
Gary has been photographed by Mel's side on an almost daily basis this past two years, appearing at almost every one of her court appearances, celebrity engagements and public events, partying with her and was a regular backstage on America's Got Talent while Mel was a judge
Gary, who is of Armenian descent and whose full name in the suit is Poghos Karen 'Gary' Madatyan, sends him a copy of the prescription which has his name on top and asks: 'I need to know the reason you wrote this and who was it for?'
But rather than deny the allegations Dr Sophy simply replies, 'Hi Call me plz.'
Gary, the suit claims, first met Mel in his capacity as a hair and wardrobe stylist in 2017, quickly becoming the star's close friend and trusted employee.
The paperwork states that at first Gary and Mel were close, Gary loved his job and he cared for her like a member of his family.
Mel eventually took Gary on full time and he soon was running every aspect of her life.
The suit states Mel 'preyed' on Gary's 'empathy' and his 'desire to get her healthy' and expanded his role so he was at her beck and call.
His multiple roles, the suit states, included live-in personal assistant, butler, hair stylist, manager, life coach, nanny and 'jack-of-all-trades'.
Mel even insisted that Gary move into the same apartment complex as her so he could be by her side 24-hours a day.
![In a series of text messages included as exhibits in the LA Superior Court filing Gary confronts Dr Sophy over the fake prescriptions](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/26/13/18962118-7505027-image-m-42_1569501667742.jpg)
![He claims Dr Charles Sophy prescribed Mel amphetamine salts under his name without his consent](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/26/13/18962122-7505027-image-a-43_1569501677748.jpg)
In a series of text messages included as exhibits in the LA Superior Court filing Gary confronts Dr Sophy over the fake prescriptions
![He claims Dr Sophy used his name without his consent to prescribe Mel the pills](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/26/13/18962110-7505027-image-m-27_1569501413315.jpg)
He claims Dr Sophy used his name without his consent to prescribe Mel the pills
![Rather than deny the allegations Dr Sophy simply replies, 'Hi Call me plz.'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/26/13/18962112-7505027-image-m-29_1569501519720.jpg)
Rather than deny the allegations Dr Sophy simply replies, 'Hi Call me plz.'
![In a text message exchange from May, Gary asked Dr Sophy for an explanation](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/26/13/18962114-7505027-image-m-35_1569501586133.jpg)
![Gary's message to Dr Sophy](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/26/13/18962116-7505027-image-a-36_1569501597260.jpg)
In a text message exchange from May, Gary asked Dr Sophy for an explanation. Mel has been publicly accused of battling alcohol and drug addiction and her close relationship with Dr Sophy, 58, is well documented
Gary has been photographed by Mel's side on an almost daily basis during past two years, appearing at almost every one of her court appearances, celebrity engagements and public events, partying with her and was a regular backstage on America's Got Talent while Mel was a judge.
The suit states that Gary was so 'integral' to Mel's life that in her recent autobiography 'Brutally Honest,' the first person she thanked in the introduction was him.
The book reads: 'To Gary Madatyan, there aren't enough thanks I can say for sticking by me through thick and thin, making me laugh and sitting with me as I cried. You are forever and ever friend.'
The suit states that with her words Mel 'knew how to tug' on Gary's heart strings and 'make him feel like he was the difference on her life and that he was a valued friend and employee.'
It added: 'In truth however, Mel B did not care for Plaintiff. Mel did not respect Plaintiff's rights and dignity as an employee or a human. As it turned out, for Defendant Mel B, Plaintiff was a convenient pawn to use and abuse and take advantage of.'
Mel paid Gary $10,000 a month but insisted he used $7,000 of it to pay for an apartment in the same complex as hers.
The suit also alleges Mel used Gary's credit card and bank account as her 'personal piggy bank', running up charges in excess of $200,000 for her and her family.
![Dr Sophy acted as marriage therapist for years in Mel's marriage to Stephen Belafonte](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/26/13/18941298-7505027-image-m-51_1569502172324.jpg)
![Stephen Belafonte](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/26/13/18963606-7505027-image-a-52_1569502185610.jpg)
Dr Sophy acted as marriage therapist for years in Mel's marriage to Stephen Belafonte (right)
Mel, it's alleged, ran up debt in Gary's name buying furniture, a television, blew money on parties, transportation, and other miscellaneous expenses.
The complaint also states Mel didn't pay Gary for all his hours worked including overtime pay.
She regularly promised to pay him back but instead continued to run up debt at his expense, the suit claims.
The filing states: 'Mel B was never going to return the money she took from him and was intending to simply steal the money.'
The suit states that earlier this year Gary grew 'fed up and tired' with Mel's behavior and confronted her about 'serious concerns' he had about her 'engaged in unlawful activity'.
When Gary's complaints grew more vocal Mel fired him unceremoniously in March this year.
The complaint states that Gary is now saddled with debt and is suing for unspecified damages.
It reads: '(Gary) suffers past and future economic damages arising out of his wrongful termination and damages for emotional distress caused by Defendants Mel B and Dr Sophy.'
It adds: 'The conduct of Defendant Mel B was extreme and dangerous and beyond the bounds of decency tolerated in a civilized society.
'Defendant Mel B's conduct was intended to cause Plaintiff severe emotional distress and/or was perpetrated with reckless disregard as to the probability that Plaintiff would suffer severe emotional distress as a result of it.'
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