Mel B claims ex-husband Stephen Belafonte 'video-called daughter Madison, 9, while surrounded by women in thongs on a yacht' in custody battle
Mel B claims ex-husband Stephen Belafonte video called their daughter Madison while 'surrounded by women in thongs on a yacht'.
The Spice Girl, 46, is currently locked in a custody battle with Stephen, also 46, when it comes to their daughter, nine, and is now asking for a judge to grant her more time with Madison, according to reports.
Mel reportedly states in court papers that she is 'increasingly concerned about Madison's safety' and her former partner's 'parenting decisions, listing the alleged video as one of her concerns.
![Custody battle: Mel B, 46, claims ex-husband Stephen Belafonte 'video-called daughter Madison while surrounded by women in thongs on a yacht'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/08/02/11/46181919-9851721-image-m-25_1627898725349.jpg)
Custody battle: Mel B, 46, claims ex-husband Stephen Belafonte 'video-called daughter Madison while surrounded by women in thongs on a yacht'
Following her split from Stephen in 2017, Mel moved back to the UK and is now based in Leeds, while Madison is currently in Los Angeles with her father.
According to The Sun, Mel is now seeking more time with Madison and lists in court papers a concern is Stephen's 'video communication with Madison while he is on a yacht surrounded by young women consuming alcohol and dancing in thong'.
The publication claims Mel told an LA court: ''Stephen is working constantly, leaving our daughter in the care of third-parties for extended times and through the days and nights.'
She claims she has been 'ignore and lied to' by Stephen and questioned who is 'caring for and around Madison' while she is in Los Angeles.
![Ongoing: Mel and Stephen have been locked in a custody battle over daughter Madison, nine, since divorcing in 2017 - she is currently in LA with her dad while Mel is back in the UK](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/08/02/11/46181849-9851721-image-a-26_1627898734564.jpg)
Ongoing: Mel and Stephen have been locked in a custody battle over daughter Madison, nine, since divorcing in 2017 - she is currently in LA with her dad while Mel is back in the UK
![Tough time: Reports claim Mel is now asking for a judge to grant her more time with Madison and she allegedly listed her concerns about Stephen in court papers](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/08/02/11/46181923-9851721-image-m-32_1627898838601.jpg)
Tough time: Reports claim Mel is now asking for a judge to grant her more time with Madison and she allegedly listed her concerns about Stephen in court papers
A judge ordered that Mel is informed of Madison's whereabouts when Stephen goes away and set a timetable for Madison to visit Mel in the UK.
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Mel B and Stephen Belafonte for comment.
The reports come after Mel addressed not being able to see Madison as much as she likes, with the coronavirus pandemic making it even more 'difficult' due to restrictions on international travel.
Mel explained in an interview with OK! magazine that during lockdown she was forced to go 'months at a time' without seeing Madison - describing the distance between herself and her daughter as the 'hardest thing' to deal with.
'I've been a single parent for a long time, as I've always been the one who financially and emotionally supported my family,' Mel said.
'Unfortunately, due to the justice system, a difficult situation with my ex, and the fact that my youngest is an American citizen, I have shared care of Madison – and because of Covid, flying between America and the UK has been really difficult.
![Difficult: Mel said not being able to see Madison for 'months at a time' is the 'hardest thing to deal with' - especially as the pandemic has made things more difficult given restrictions (pictured with Madison in 2016)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/08/02/11/46181905-9851721-image-a-27_1627898739272.jpg)
Difficult: Mel said not being able to see Madison for 'months at a time' is the 'hardest thing to deal with' - especially as the pandemic has made things more difficult given restrictions (pictured with Madison in 2016)
![Apart: Opening up about the difficult situation, Mel said: 'Not having my baby with me for months at a time is the hardest thing I've had to deal with' (pictured above with Madison)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/08/02/11/46181847-9851721-image-a-30_1627898760119.jpg)
Apart: Opening up about the difficult situation, Mel said: 'Not having my baby with me for months at a time is the hardest thing I've had to deal with' (pictured above with Madison)
'Not having my baby with me for months at a time is the hardest thing I've had to deal with.'
Mel is also mum to daughters Phoenix, 22, from her previous relationship with ex Jimmy Gulzar, and Angel, 14, who she shares with ex Eddie Murphy.
She and Stephen married in 2007 and were together for 10 years, before splitting.
Mel previously accused 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.
In May, earlier this year, Mel spoke about her traumatic experience with domestic abuse during an appearance on 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 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.
![US based: Madison is a US citizen and is currently based in LA with dad Stephen, who Mel was married to for 10 years before their split in 2017](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/08/02/11/46181909-9851721-US_based_Madison_is_a_US_citizen_and_is_currently_based_in_LA_wi-a-35_1627899342293.jpg)
US based: Madison is a US citizen and is currently based in LA with dad Stephen, who Mel was married to for 10 years before their split in 2017
'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.'
Mel recently appeared in a Women's Aid video where she appeared beaten and covered in fake bruises as she attempted to flee a violent partner. The Spice Girls star is a patron of the charity,
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.'
She added: 'You put on your armour and you walk out to the world, but behind closed doors it's very, very different.
![Hard-hitting: Mel recently appeared in a Women's Aid video - she a patron for the charity - where she appeared beaten and covered in fake bruises as she attempted to flee a violent partner (pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/31/17/42967288-9637509-Hard_hitting_In_the_Women_s_Aid_video_the_Spice_Girl_45_appeared-a-12_1622480311928.jpg)
Hard-hitting: Mel recently appeared in a Women's Aid video - she a patron for the charity - where she appeared beaten and covered in fake bruises as she attempted to flee a violent partner (pictured)
'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.
'We wanted to highlight how it can escalate very quickly to feeling trapped and alone.
![Family: Mel is also mum to two daughters Phoenix, now 22, and Angel, 14, from previous relationships (pictured above L-R: Angel, Mel, Stephen, Madison and Phoenix in 2015)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/08/02/11/46181913-9851721-image-a-33_1627898901883.jpg)
Family: Mel is also mum to two daughters Phoenix, now 22, and Angel, 14, from previous relationships (pictured above L-R: Angel, Mel, Stephen, Madison and Phoenix in 2015)
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