Mel B’s former spouse takes action to dismiss her request for sanctions in a $5 million legal dispute

The ongoing legal dispute between Mel B and her ex-husband, Stephen Belafonte, takes a new turn as further allegations surface regarding the singer.

Belafonte recently addressed the former Spice Girls member’s petition regarding his $5 million defamation lawsuit. He asserted that her motion should be rejected, asserting himself as the true victim in the case.

Mel B and Stephen Belafonte have been in constant conflict since their 2017 separation, with the singer making serious allegations against her ex, including domestic violence, verbal abuse, and other crimes. He has strongly denied all of these accusations.

Mel B’s former spouse alleges that she has been engaged in a smear campaign spanning several years.

In the latest court filings, Belafonte strongly objected to Mel B’s request for sanctions and urged the court to dismiss it. His lawyer presented several arguments in his favor, focusing on the 49-year-old’s consistent claim that the singer defamed his character.

The filing alleged that Mel’s motion for sanctions was a strategic move aimed at inflating the expenses of this legal proceeding and squandering the Court’s scarce and precious judicial resources. According to Belafonte’s attorney, the lawsuit goes beyond a defamation case, as they pointed out:

“Stephen took legal action against Mel in response to Mel’s relentless efforts over the past ten years to inflict severe emotional distress on him and tarnish his reputation.”

The documents obtained by In Touch highlight the singer’s ongoing efforts to harm and harass Stephen. It all started with a false accusation of domestic violence in a California court back in 2017, and the singer has been relentless in their pursuit ever since.

Stephen Belafonte criticizes Mel B’s alleged attempts to tarnish his reputation.

Belafonte alleged that Mel has recently intensified her attempts to tarnish his reputation by spreading her fabricated story through the press and media. She made appearances on popular TV shows such as “The View,” “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” and “The Jennifer Hudson Show.”

Belafonte strongly emphasized his possession of evidence regarding Mel’s extensive and malicious harassment activities, urging the court to permit his defamation lawsuit to move forward. However, his ex-wife contended that his lawsuit was a clear misuse of the judicial process.

The Blast reported that the Spice Girls member criticized Belafonte’s defamation case as an unfounded effort to silence her. Her lawyer argued that he was unhappy because she spoke openly about the alleged abuse in their troubled marriage.

The former member of the Spice Girls refuses to remain quiet.

In her motion to dismiss Belafonte’s lawsuit, the lawyer for the 49-year-old contended that her ex-husband had brought forth a groundless SLAPP suit in an overseas jurisdiction that lacks personal jurisdiction over Brown, solely to litigate matters that are clearly time-barred.

The representative of the entertainer emphasized the significance of her platform, highlighting her efforts to support marginalized women on a global scale. Regarding that matter, the lawsuit against Belafonte was portrayed as a challenge to Mel’s right to freely express his opinions, as protected by the constitution.

The dispute between the former partners started in May, when Belafonte requested a sum of $5 million and a legal order to prevent the singer from discussing or mentioning him. He stated that he would contribute all monetary benefits to a program supporting women affected by abuse.

Mel B has accused her ex-husband of making derogatory comments about her body.

In October 2023, The Blast reported that Mel discussed her journey towards rebuilding her self-confidence after enduring what she claims was verbal abuse from Belafonte. She alleged that he made hurtful comments about her appearance, including remarks about looking old, being overweight, being unattractive, and having flabby arms.

Mel emphasized her ability to handle criticism and withstand public scrutiny, but it felt particularly hurtful to hear disparaging remarks from someone she trusted. She compared his words to rain, mentioning:

“They permeate your being, eroding self-assurance and distorting your self-perception. When you gaze into the mirror, instead of seeing a resilient and content woman, you are confronted with a reflection that echoes hurtful labels: ‘overweight, unattractive, aged… insignificant.'”

Mel B expressed her joy in discovering happiness following her relationship with Stephen Belafonte.

Despite the reported difficulties Mel faced, she eventually found love again and regained her self-assurance. She acknowledged her fiancée, Rory McPhee, for playing a significant role in her personal development.

“After years of personal growth and self-discovery, I have reached a point of unwavering confidence. I am fortunate to have found a loving partner who consistently expresses their affection and admiration for me,” the mother-of-two expressed with delight.

“Having a supportive partner, being surrounded by loved ones, and having a close-knit group of trusted friends all contribute to my overall well-being.”

Given Stephen Belafonte’s unwavering determination in his defamation lawsuit, Mel B may have to prepare herself for a contentious legal dispute. Nevertheless, a judge has not yet made a ruling on their motions.