Mel B reveals she only wore white for a year after splitting from Stephen Belafonte because he insisted she wear certain colours when they were together
- The singer, 45, overhauled her wardrobe once she was alone again, partly to 'clear' herself of his control but also because she was so confused
- She said: 'I didn't even know what colour I liked any more because those choices were taken away from me for so long. And I just accepted it'
- Mel thought her ex-husband was being 'sweet' when he started buying clothes for her but ultimately realised it was part of his controlling behaviour
- The Spice Girl also told how Stephen isolated her from her family without her realising, such as discouraging her from calling her mother
- It was only when Mel began speaking to abuse victims in her native Leeds that she realised how common coercive control can be within relationships
- If you have been affected by this story, contact Women's Aid at www.womensaid.org.uk
Mel B has revealed she only wore white for a year after she split from Stephen Belafonte - because she 'didn't know' what colours she liked any more.
The Spice Girls singer, 45, alleged her former husband used to insist she dressed in garments of certain hues when they were together so she overhauled her wardrobe once she was alone again, partly to 'clear' herself of his control but also because she was so confused.
She told The Guardian: 'For the first year when I left my ex, I would only wear white because I felt I was clearing myself of that. I didn't even know what colour I liked any more because those choices were taken away from me for so long. And I just accepted it.'
![Candid: Mel B has revealed she only wore white for a year after she split from Stephen Belafonte - because she 'didn't know' what colours she liked any more (pictured in 2019)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/17/18/43097019-9588563-Candid_Mel_B_has_revealed_she_only_wore_white_for_a_year_after_s-m-3_1621272003895.jpg)
Candid: Mel B has revealed she only wore white for a year after she split from Stephen Belafonte - because she 'didn't know' what colours she liked any more (pictured in 2019)
Mel - who has Phoenix, 22, with first husband Jimmy Gulzar, Angel, 14, with Eddie Murphy, and nine-year-old Madison with Stephen - initially thought her then-husband was being 'sweet' when he started buying clothes for her but ultimately realised it was part of his controlling behaviour.
She said: 'It starts with tiny things. 'Oh, don't wear that dress – I've bought you this dress.' 'It wasn't like: 'Put this dress on!' It was: 'Look what I've bought for you! I saw you looking at it on Net-a-Porter.'
'And you think: 'Oh my God, that's so sweet!' when actually they're starting to take over everything.'
Mel also told how Stephen isolated her from her family without her realising, such as discouraging her from calling her mother who she would usually speak to on the phone everyday.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/17/18/43096037-9588563-image-a-7_1621272166903.jpg)
Claims: The Spice Girls singer, 45, alleged her former husband used to insist she dressed in garments of certain hues when they were together (pictured with Stephen in 2012)
It was only when Mel began speaking to abuse victims in her native Leeds that she realised how common coercive control can be within relationships.
The star admitted she ignored a warning from one of Stephen's previous partners about his behaviour when they were together.
Mel said her ex dismissed the woman as 'crazy' and she believed him over her, saying she was 'frightened' to believe her.
It comes after Mel spoke candidly about her traumatic experience with domestic abuse during an appearance on Monday's edition of Good Morning Britain.
The singer emotionally admitted being abused 'does crush your soul' as she claimed it would take 'forever to get that back', and explained how women in situations like hers struggle to get out of it.
Mel has previously accused her ex-husband Stephen of 'emotional and physical abuse', which he has vehemently denied, and has claimed she attempted to leave her marriage for a decade but found it to be an 'impossible' situation.
!['It does crush your soul, I'm going to be taking forever to get that back': Mel spoke candidly about her traumatic experience with domestic abuse while appearing on Monday's GMB](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/17/09/43077445-9587023-image-m-4_1621241062246.jpg)
'It does crush your soul, I'm going to be taking forever to get that back': Mel spoke candidly about her traumatic experience with domestic abuse while appearing on Monday's GMB
Mel told co-hosts Susanna Reid and Adil Ray: 'As a woman that's gone through it, it does crush your soul, it does really strip you… I'm going to be taking forever to get that back.
'I've had to build myself up. One of the good things for me is to speak to other women who have been in a similar situation.'
In the Women's Aid video, the Spice Girl, who is a patron of the charity, appeared beaten and covered in fake bruises as she attempted to flee a violent partner.
She said of the clip: 'You know that's why this video is so important, because it's not just my story, [it's] bits and pieces of my story, but it's every woman's story, it's everybody's voice, because we are dealing with an epidemic.'
![Shocking: In a Women's Aid video released on Thursday, Mel appeared beaten and covered in fake bruises as she attempted to flee a violent partner, to highlight domestic violence](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/17/09/43079051-9587023-image-a-3_1621240946849.jpg)
Shocking: In a Women's Aid video released on Thursday, Mel appeared beaten and covered in fake bruises as she attempted to flee a violent partner, to highlight domestic violence
![Candid: Mel told co-hosts Susanna Reid and Adil Ray: 'As a woman that's gone through it, it does crush your soul, it does really strip you¿ I'm going to be taking forever to get that back'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/17/10/43077459-9587023-Candid_Mel_told_co_hosts_Susanna_Reid_and_Adil_Ray_As_a_woman_th-m-19_1621242215248.jpg)
Candid: Mel told co-hosts Susanna Reid and Adil Ray: 'As a woman that's gone through it, it does crush your soul, it does really strip you… I'm going to be taking forever to get that back'
She added: 'You put on your armour and you walk out to the world, but behind closed doors it's very, very different.
'It's embarrassing, shameful and you carry so much guilt having to lie and keep that secret. To do this campaign was so important to me.'
Mel went on to speak about how difficult it is for women in abusive relationships to leave them, saying: 'People in these situations, they don't feel like there's a way out.
'They've been isolated from their friends, their family and that's one of the major signs somebody is in one of those kinds of relationships.
'The only way out is sporadically run - you don't know where you're running, you don't know where you're going to get help, you probably don't have your own phone anymore, your friends probably haven't heard from you in months.
![Ex: Mel has previously claimed she tried to leave her marriage for 10 years, after accusing ex Stephen of 'emotional and physical abuse,' which he denies (pictured in 2016)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/17/09/43001370-9587023-Ex_Mel_B_s_ex_husband_Stephen_Belafonte_has_jetted_into_London_h-a-6_1621241219952.jpg)
Ex: Mel has previously claimed she tried to leave her marriage for 10 years, after accusing ex Stephen of 'emotional and physical abuse,' which he denies (pictured in 2016)
'We wanted to highlight how it can escalate very quickly to feeling trapped and alone.'
Mel added that she experiences good and bad days as a result of her trauma, adding: 'It doesn't just go away. It will always be with me, I just have to learn to live with it.'
The singer has returned to Leeds to live with her mum, sisters, and her other family members, and detailed how 'important' it was for her to be with them again.
She gushed: 'Being away from my family for so long - a good 10 years and not having much communication and during that time, my dad died, it was really important for me to get back to my roots, my northern side. My mum, my sister, my kids, we love it there.'
![Struggle: Mel spoke about how difficult it is for women to leave abusive relationships, saying: 'They don't feel like there's a way out. They've been isolated from their friends, their family'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/17/10/43077463-9587023-Struggle_Mel_spoke_about_how_difficult_it_is_for_women_to_leave_-m-20_1621242274604.jpg)
Struggle: Mel spoke about how difficult it is for women to leave abusive relationships, saying: 'They don't feel like there's a way out. They've been isolated from their friends, their family'
Mel has also revealed she is currently in a relationship, saying: 'I'm with somebody who's very kind, very honest, very loving. I need somebody understanding.'
In an interview with The Guardian on Monday, she said of her abusive relationship: 'I tried to leave seven times, so you can imagine how desperate I was in those 10 years.
Mel said she did not have anywhere to go and didn't own her own credit card or car.
The Spice Girls singer revealed she has since found love again and though she insisted she wants to keep her personal life 'private' now, she's very happy with her 'very, very kind' new lover.
When asked more about her new love, Mel claimed she wanted to keep it to herself because 'everything else is out in the open' and didn't want to add more.
![Candid: Mel said of the Women's Aid clip: 'You put on your armour and you walk out to the world, but behind closed doors it's very, very different'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/17/09/43077461-9587023-image-a-17_1621241386305.jpg)
Candid: Mel said of the Women's Aid clip: 'You put on your armour and you walk out to the world, but behind closed doors it's very, very different'
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.
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.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/17/18/43096043-9588563-image-a-6_1621272162500.jpg)
Relationship: Mel added that she experiences good and bad days as a result of her trauma, adding: 'It doesn't just go away. It will always be with me' (pictured with Stephen in 2015)
The clip ends with a bloodied Mel dramatically fleeing her house after her partner leaves, desperate to escape his abusive behaviour.
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.
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.
![Shocking: The former 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](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/17/09/42964476-9587023-Shocking_The_former_Spice_Girl_can_be_seen_attempting_to_flee_he-a-15_1621241321851.jpg)
Shocking: The former 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 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.'
![Brutal: 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](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/13/23/42964486-9577131-image-a-22_1620945696988.jpg)
Brutal: 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
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.'
![Alternative sight: The video shows the couple dancing together, alluding to the image of their 'happy' relationship](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/14/00/42967598-9577131-image-a-68_1620948572267.jpg)
Alternative sight: The video shows the couple dancing together, alluding to the image of their 'happy' relationship
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.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/14/01/42966756-9577131-image-a-17_1620952874389.jpg)
Tough: Speaking to ITV News she said: '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'
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.
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.'
![Apart: Mel is living in her native Britain after leaving her job as a judge on America's Got Talent, with their daughterMadison living in LA with her father. The exes currently share custody](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/14/08/25507278-9577131-Apart_The_Spice_Girl_is_living_in_her_native_Britain_after_leavi-a-8_1620977447739.jpg)
Apart: Mel is living in her native Britain after leaving her job as a judge on America's Got Talent, with their daughterMadison living in LA with her father. The exes currently share custody
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.
![Issues: The estranged former couple currently share joint custody of Madison following their acrimonious divorce in late 2017 (pictured in August 2016)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/14/01/25506568-9577131-Issues_The_estranged_former_couple_currently_share_joint_custody-a-22_1620952874399.jpg)
Issues: The estranged former couple currently share joint custody of Madison following their acrimonious divorce in late 2017 (pictured in August 2016)
'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
![Family: In addition to Madison, Mel B is a mother to daughters Phoenix, 22, whose father is her first husband Jimmy Gulzar, and Angel, 14, whose father is Hollywood star Eddie Murphy. They are pictured in LA in 2018 along with Belafonte's adult daughter Giselle](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/04/01/25506572-8072019-Family_In_addition_to_Madison_Mel_B_is_mom_to_daughters_Phoenix_-a-48_1583286435844.jpg)
Family: In addition to Madison, Mel B is a mother to daughters Phoenix, 22, whose father is her first husband Jimmy Gulzar, and Angel, 14, whose father is Hollywood star Eddie Murphy. They are pictured in LA in 2018 along with Belafonte's adult daughter Giselle
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