Mel B Fires Back At Ex-Husband's $5 Million Lawsuit, Cites Abuse Of Judicial Process
Mel B (real name Melanie Brown) is fighting back in a heated legal feud after her ex-husband, Stephen Belafonte, sued her for $5 million in defamation.
The Spice Girls alum, who has been vocal about her tumultuous relationship with Belafonte, calls the lawsuit a desperate ploy to silence her.
The legal battle between Mel B and Stephen Belafonte has been escalating since May when he accused her of defaming him with allegations of abuse. The drama reached a new level in July after he released a damning phone recording allegedly featuring the singer.
Mel B Accuses Ex-Husband Of Abusing Legal System
In her court response, the actress urged the court to sanction Belafonte for what her legal team described as a "blatant abuse of judicial process."
According to her attorney, Belafonte's lawsuit is a baseless attempt to silence Mel B, who has been outspoken about her alleged experiences of "physical and emotional abuse during their tumultuous decade-long marriage."
Mel B's lawyer argued, "Displeased with [Mel's] exercise of her constitutionally protected freedoms, [Stephen] filed this baseless SLAPP suit to litigate plainly time-barred matters in a foreign forum that lacks personal jurisdiction over Brown."
In documents obtained by In Touch, the attorney highlighted how Mel B has used her platform to advocate for vulnerable women globally, and Belafonte's lawsuit is seen as an attack on her constitutionally protected right to speak out.
Adding to the tension, Belafonte is seeking an injunction to prevent Mel B from ever publicly discussing her memoir or him again.
However, the singer's legal team is calling for the case to be dismissed and for the film producer to cover her legal fees. They emphasize the lawsuit's lack of merit and his bad-faith efforts to control her voice even after their 2017 divorce.
Inside Stephen Belafonte's $5 Million Defamation Lawsuit
The bitter legal feud between Mel B and her ex-husband took a dramatic turn when Belafonte filed a $5 million defamation lawsuit against the singer in May, coinciding with her 49th birthday.
The Blast reported that the father-of-one accused Mel B of waging a ten-year campaign of false allegations to ruin his reputation. In his lawsuit, filed in a Florida court, Belafonte alleged that the TV personality had launched a series of damaging claims since 2017.
Some of these included accusations of "rape, illegal gun possession, sex trafficking, production of illegal pornography, domestic battery and child endangerment." He further claimed that these allegations cost him access to his home and children.
Seeking $5 million in damages, a trial by jury, and a gag order to prevent Mel B from discussing him publicly, Belafonte insisted that he is not pursuing a settlement.
The 49-year-old disclosed his expressed desire to donate any financial gains from the case to a women's abuse program.
Belafonte Revealed Texts With The Spice Girls Bandmate
Belafonte's lawsuit, which accused the mother-of-one of defamation and emotional distress, included a series of text messages between Mel B and her bandmate Geri Halliwell. The leaked text messages suggest that the singer's philanthropic efforts may have been driven by personal gain.
In the messages, Mel B allegedly expressed skepticism about the financial viability of charity work, writing, "Charity doesn't pay the bills," in response to Halliwell's suggestion of organizing a charity gig. Halliwell, taken aback by the statement, replied:
"I hope nobody ever hacks your texts!!!!! I believe we should do something good and kicking off with a charity gig would be hugely positive. The power of our brand is enormous and all of our work is off the back of it including Vikki [Victoria Beckham]!!!!!!"
Despite her bandmate's shock, Mel B remained unfazed, reiterating her view that charity work does not generate financial returns.
The Producer's Alleged 2018 Recording Of Mel B
In his latest attempt in his fight with Mel B, Belafonte released an alleged phone recording of the singer from 2018 on X.
The audio clip, which Belafonte claims features the Spice Girls star, supposedly captures Mel B making false accusations in a child abuse case—a case he insists never existed.
The Blast shared that the audio in question, while unverified, appears to resemble Mel B's voice. In the caption accompanying the post, Belafonte stated:
"She falsely accuses someone of raping a child because she's upset with them. This is just one example of so many how far #Melb is willing to go and lie about someone."
The TV personality further asserted that these accusations are entirely fabricated, claiming that no official report was ever made to the Los Angeles Police Department. He urged followers to refer to his defamation lawsuit for additional context.
Details Of The Phone Recording
The audio, posted on X, allegedly featured Mel B warning an unidentified female to avoid answering calls from a man involved in what she claims is a child abuse investigation.
However, the singer also reassured the other party that they would not be questioned, advising them to avoid the man's calls entirely. In the recording, Mel B allegedly advised the woman, saying:
"You have nothing to do with it, but I will keep your name out of everything because it's me and my kids. So, do not answer any of his calls. Let it ring, don't block, and that's that."
Belafonte seized on this moment, highlighting in his tweet that the audio purportedly captured Mel B's assertion of an ongoing investigation related to child abuse.
This revelation adds another layer of complexity to the former couple's heated legal dispute, with Belafonte continuing his effort to discredit the claims Mel B has made against him.
