Mel B & Stephen Belafonte: The Spice Girl Who Paid Her Abuser $350,000 to Leave
She alleged years of physical and sexual abuse. He denied everything. She ended up paying him $350,000 to get free.
Key Facts
What Happened
Melanie Brown, known as Mel B of the Spice Girls, married film producer Stephen Belafonte in a Las Vegas ceremony in June 2007. They had one daughter, Madison, born in 2011. For nearly a decade, the marriage appeared functional from the outside. But when Mel B filed for divorce in March 2017, she also filed a temporary restraining order alleging years of physical and sexual abuse that she said began almost immediately after the wedding.
In her restraining order filing, Mel B detailed a pattern of violence, intimidation, and control. She alleged that Belafonte had beaten her, forced her into sexual encounters with other women, filmed these encounters without consent, and used the recordings as blackmail material to keep her in the marriage. Belafonte denied all allegations, calling them 'outrageous and unfounded.' The allegations shocked the entertainment world and added Mel B to the growing list of women in the #MeToo era who were speaking out about abuse.
The divorce was finalized in late 2017. In a result that outraged domestic violence advocates, Mel B was ordered to pay Belafonte $350,000 as part of the settlement, plus $5,000 per month in child support for their daughter Madison. As part of the settlement, Mel B dropped the temporary restraining order and the domestic violence allegations were settled without admission of liability. The financial outcome reflected California's community property laws, which apply regardless of abuse allegations unless criminal convictions are obtained.
The aftermath continued for years. In 2024, Belafonte filed a $5 million defamation lawsuit against Mel B, claiming that her continued public statements about abuse had damaged his reputation and career. Mel B has become a vocal advocate for domestic violence awareness, speaking publicly about her experience and supporting organizations that help abuse survivors. Her case highlights a devastating reality: in many divorces involving abuse, the victim pays more — financially and emotionally — than the abuser.
Legal Breakdown: Domestic Violence in Divorce
Abuse Allegations vs. Community Property
Despite Mel B's detailed abuse allegations, California's community property laws divided assets based on financial contributions, not conduct. Without a criminal conviction, abuse allegations alone don't typically change property division. This creates a painful reality for many abuse survivors: the law may require them to pay their abuser to get free. Some states are beginning to consider domestic violence in property division, but California has been slow to change.
Dropping Restraining Orders in Settlement
Mel B dropped her restraining order as part of the divorce settlement. This is disturbingly common — abusers often demand that protective orders be dismissed as a condition of agreeing to settlement terms. Victims face a difficult choice: maintain the restraining order and face prolonged litigation, or drop it and secure a faster resolution. Advocates argue that courts should not allow restraining orders to be bargained away.
Defamation Lawsuits as Post-Divorce Harassment
Belafonte's 2024 defamation lawsuit against Mel B is an example of what domestic violence experts call 'litigation abuse' or 'legal bullying.' By suing for defamation, the alleged abuser forces the victim to relive the abuse in court, incur massive legal fees, and potentially stop speaking publicly about their experience. Some jurisdictions have anti-SLAPP laws that protect against such suits, but they vary significantly by state.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →Abuse allegations alone may not change property division in community property states. Criminal charges or convictions carry more weight in court.
- →Never drop a restraining order without consulting a domestic violence attorney. The order is your legal protection, and giving it up should not be a negotiation chip.
- →Post-divorce defamation lawsuits can be used to silence abuse survivors. If you face one, look into anti-SLAPP protections in your state.
- →Document everything: photos, texts, medical records, police reports. Without evidence, abuse allegations become he-said/she-said — and the legal system often fails victims.
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This article is based on publicly available court records, news reports, and legal analysis. It is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this content.
Divorce laws vary by jurisdiction. Always consult a licensed attorney in your area before making legal decisions.