Mel B's ex-husband Stephen Belafonte jets into London - hours after the singer appeared covered in fake bruises for shocking video to highlight domestic violence
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- If you have been affected by this story, contact Women's Aid at www.womensaid.org.uk
Mel B's ex-husband Stephen Belafonte has jetted into London hours after the singer appeared in a shocking video to highlight the effects of domestic violence.
In the Women's Aid video, the Spice Girl, 45, appeared beaten and covered in fake bruises as she attempted to flee a violent partner.
It came as Mel also claimed she attempted to leave her marriage to ex-husband Stephen, who has vehemently denied any accusations of abuse, for a decade but found it to be an 'impossible' situation.
The Mirror reported on Friday night that Stephen, 45, had jetted into London with the producer confirming the news on his own Instagram.
Posting a picture to his Stories, Stephen revealed that he was travelling to the United Kingdom with singer Malú Trevejo, 18, who he manages.
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The producer shared an image of a Union Jack flag with a laughing emoji and 'I [heart emoji] the UK', he penned: 'I'm in London with my superstar @malutrevejo and after we quarantine it's [four fire emojis].'
The Mirror also claims that Malú told her Instagram followers that she was 'quizzed by police' over an alleged lockdown breach at her London hotel earlier this week after she went outside to smoke.
MailOnline has contacted both Stephen and Malú's representatives for further comment.
On Thursday night, Mel appeared beaten and covered in fake bruises for a shocking music video to highlight the effects of domestic violence.
The Spice Girl can be seen attempting to flee her violent partner in the Women's Aid video, which was made in collaboration with classical composer Fabio D'Andrea.
It came after Mel also claimed she attempted to leave her marriage to ex-husband Stephen, who has denied any accusations of abuse, for a decade but found it to be an 'impossible' situation.
In the video, Mel can be seen wearing makeup to mimic a bloodied face and bruises as she is dragged across the room and beaten by her partner.
While the video shows that the couple's relationship is the picture of happiness to those around them, behind closed doors she is left terrified by her partner's violent behaviour.
The clip ends with a bloodied Mel dramatically fleeing her house after her partner leaves, desperate to escape his abusive behaviour.
Speaking to The Sun following the video's release, Mel, who is now a patron for Women's Aid, explained: 'Whether it be the spitting or the strangulation, these are things that actually happen. They are all these women's stories.
'I came out of making that video with bruises because I wanted it to be an honest representation of what we have all gone through.
'There is a bedroom scene where I am attacked, it was really important to make that real.'
Mel also hinted that five years since leaving her marriage, she has found love again with a new partner, admitting that following her ordeal she couldn't even be hugged or touched for a year.
The singer also welcomed the introduction of The Domestic Abuse Bill into law, with the new Act setting out the definition as being beyond just physical violence, and including coercive control and emotional and sexual abuse.
However Mel also detailed that despite divorcing Stephen, she is still embroiled in a custody arrangement meaning she cannot see her daughter Madison for weeks on end.
Since leaving her ex, Mel has settled into a new life in Leeds with her mum Andrea and has vowed to teach her daughters how to maintain a good relationship, including a ban on yelling in her house.
Speaking further about the short film, Mel said: 'I'm so incredibly proud to be part of this project which means so much to me because this is a collaboration of three things that are so important in my life. Music, dance and a way to highlight the ever increasing issue of violence towards women.
'It seems strange to say I am proud of showing something so brutal and disturbing but it is my mission to raise awareness of something so many women go through every day, every week, every month of their lives.
'I have had my own experiences of abusive relationships but as patron of Women's Aid I have spoken to so many other women, listened to what they have gone through and I know how very real the danger is to so many women out there and I'm not going to stop breaking the silence and the shame around this subject because it's too much and we have to stand up and do something.
'This performance represents the stories and the experiences of those women I have met, spoken to or heard about.
'My heart breaks for every single woman and child who suffers from some form of domestic abuse. I want this to count for all victims of abuse. I want to help raise awareness, raise money and do anything I can to put a stop to this epidemic.'
The video is part of a series by D'Andrea that has also included actor Russell Tovey highlighting issues around fame and mental health.
D'Andrea said: 'So much can be communicated via the arts that cannot be in other ways. We all hope this video can connect with as many people as possible.
'Domestic violence exists in every section of society but we rarely hear about it. This music and this video aims to change that. This video performance represents the stories and the experiences of many, many women. It is very real, very raw.'
Teresa Parker, head of communications for Women's Aid, said: 'Specialist services, such as those run by Women's Aid nationally and the local services run by our members all around the country, truly help to save lives.
'We are asking everyone to share this important video, to help us raise awareness, and if you can consider donating to Women's Aid or your local domestic abuse service to make sure that women fleeing abuse, like the woman that Melanie is playing in the video, are able to access the help and support that they urgently need.'
It came as Mel also claimed she tried to leave her marriage for 10 years, after accusing ex-husband Stephen of 'emotional and physical abuse.'
In an interview for ITV News, the singer explained she attempted to leave her relationship multiple times, but kept going back to him.
She said: 'I was married for 10 years and I did find the strength to leave, but then I ended up going back… it was just an impossible situation for me.'
'When you are in that kind of relationship, it literally feels impossible to get out because you're isolated.
'Some women don't have access to their phones, even their finances. Like in my situation, you are completely cut off from a regular normal world. What becomes your normality is living in an abusive relationship with no way out, but there is help.'
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Stephen Belafonte for further comment.
Mel previously claimed that much of her abuse was recorded, as well as herself and Stephen having sex, which he claimed was consensual.
The former couple divorced in 2017, with Mel revealing last year that she now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, which can lead to flashbacks.
The singer told how she once woke up from a nightmare convinced that her ex had tried to chop off her finger.
Mel said she didn't realise how traumatised she was until after the release of her book Brutally Honest when she struggled to speak about the alleged abuse during interviews.
She said: 'I didn't even realise for so many years that I was in a coercive relationship. It was only through doing my book that I began to fully understand the situation I had been living in for ten years. And I know I'm not the only one like that.'
Mel's autobiography, Brutally Honest, talks about abuse and her suicide attempt, and the singer said she has no regrets about anything in the book, including her revelations about her ex - who she divorced in 2017 after ten years of marriage.
Speaking of their volatile relationship while on GMB in 2018, she said: 'I had an unfortunate ten year marriage; very coercive and abusive. Something we don’t talk about, because it’s taboo.
'I wanted to address all these different situations due to living such a life for 10 years. I wanted to own it take back my power in a respectful way, I think.'
Host Piers Morgan said: 'The opening page talks about a suicide attempt… it was around The X Factor judging time.'
Mel responded: 'Yeah, I was crushed. I am probably still healing and learning from that whole entire relationship. Writing the book was cathartic and therapeutic... It is a chapter in my life that has been put to rest.'
Talking further about Stephen, she said: 'I didn’t choose him he chose me and sought me out. It came at a very vulnerable point at my life.
'There was domestic violence, mental abuse, control, torture....it's very, not a very nice thing to have gone through. I am happy as I have teamed up with Women's Aid, educating people, that’s not normal, fair or respectful to treat anyone like that.'
She and Stephen divorced in 2017 and spent months battling it out in a nasty court fight before finally reaching a settlement in August 2018 which involved the abuse charges being dropped.
She accused him of physical and emotional abuse and he claimed she was a cocaine and alcohol addict.
Last year, Mel was reported to be furious that the nanny whom she accused of wrecking her marriage to Belafonte is still caring for their daughter Madison.
Mel was said to be looking into taking legal action to keep Lorraine Gilles away from her daughter who is living with her father in Los Angeles, according to The Sun.
'There is a stay away order in place to ensure Lorraine Gilles keeps out of the lives of Mel and her daughters,' a spokesperson for the star told the outlet at the time. 'Her lawyers will be looking into this matter.'
And a source told the website: 'There were valid reasons why she did not want Lorraine around her children, hence a stayaway order was put in place.'
MailOnline contacted Mel B's representatives for comment at the time.
Gilles had been snapped picking up Madison from her school and walking the family dog with her.
Gilles, who was 18 when she was hired by the couple as a nanny in 2009, admitted to having sex with both Belafonte and Mel including threesomes during a deposition in the messy divorce case.
In April 2019, the Spice Girl paid out $1.8 million to settle a defamation lawsuit brought against her by Gilles whom she had called a 'prostitute' and a 'homewrecker' two years earlier.
In 2017, Stephen denied Mel's allegations of abuse in a statement, telling TMZ: 'It's a shame that Ms. Brown elected not to proceed in a respectful and amicable fashion in this very private matter.
'In due course, Mr. Belafonte will be filing his response to the outrageous and unfounded allegations made by Ms. Brown, which allegations he vehemently denies.
'When the Court determines the truth, it will become clear that this entire charade was nothing more than a smear campaign intended to cover up Ms. Brown's own conduct during the marriage in light of her current involvement with a family television show, and in an effort to unfairly gain leverage both financially and with respect to custody of the children.'
'When the degree to which Ms. Brown has gone to create a false depiction of her marriage to Mr. Belafonte is uncovered, real victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse will be understandably offended, angry and upset.'
'Mr. Belafonte is confident that the truth will come out when he has his day in court at which time he looks forward to being reunited with his children.'
Mel previously said she's been struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder since her marriage broke down in 2016.
If you have been affected by this story, contact Women's Aid at www.womensaid.org.uk
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