Mel B Breaks Silence On Ex-Husband's Snide Comments About Her Body

Mel B, the Spice Girl known for her empowering anthems, has broken her silence about the hurtful comments made by her ex-partner Stephen Belafonte.

As you know, the former pair were married for ten years before they divorced in 2017. Their divorce was highly publicized, with the star accusing Belafonte of physical and emotional abuse. Now, the activist refuses to let derogatory labels define her, sending a powerful message of self-love and resilience.

Embodying "Sexy Spice" rather than Scary Spice, the actress has overcome self-confidence challenges stemming from an "abusive" marriage. But she did not achieve it all on her own. The mother-of-three attributed her newfound confidence and sense of beauty to her hair stylist fiancé, Rory McPhee. 

However, the journey to reclaim her self-worth was substantially marked by trauma during her marriage to Belafonte, as the songwriter claimed that the film producer cruelly labeled her as "fat and ugly."

The mother-of-three pointed out that even though she had "thick skin" when it came to public opinions, it was different "when someone you are married to, someone who is meant to love and respect and treasure you, someone you share a home and a life with, starts ripping you apart, then it is very, very different."

Mel B told The Sun that the "Wolf Mountain" co-executive producer would allegedly always say things like "'You look old', 'you look fat', 'God, you are ugly', [and] 'your arms are flabby.'" 

Describing the words "like rain," the television personality suggested that they permeate one's sense of self, eroding confidence and distorting their perception. In her words:

"They seep right into you, they wash away self-confidence, your sense of self and, when you look in the mirror, you don't see a strong, happy woman — you see a reflection of what you're told, 'fat, ugly, old . . . worthless.'"

Crediting the hair stylist, whom she met in 2018, for being instrumental in boosting her self-assurance, the 48-year-old shared: "It has taken me years but I feel more confident than ever now and I'm with a partner who tells me he loves me and tells me I'm beautiful every day. Being with a man who loves me, being with my family, having trusted loving friends, it all helps."

Coming through all that, the "I Want You Back" singer is now even more determined to pass on a message of body confidence to her three daughters. She emphasized, "I tell them they are beautiful. I never talk about diets. I talk about health, fitness, and strength. I grew up with my mum saying every Sunday night, 'The diet starts tomorrow.'"

Seeing the ineffectiveness of such approaches, Mel B is committed to promoting a healthy lifestyle, encompassing everything from "eating healthily, exercising and understanding your body — from the amount of sleep you need to the level of water you should drink." 

After shocking her fans by revealing her engagement to McPhee, who is 11 years her junior, Mel B disclosed last month that her upcoming nuptials would exude elegance, set against the backdrop of one of England's prestigious wedding venues. 

This is to be expected, seeing as she was proposed to with a breathtaking champagne-colored diamond ring valued at $177,000, against the background of the Cliveden House in the United Kingdom.

The well-known talent shared details while chatting with Dave Hughes, Ed Kavalee, and Erin Molan on the renowned Australian breakfast show, 2Day FM. When asked about the venue, the "Voodoo Princess" presenter revealed:

"Because I have an MBE, I can get married at the same place Princess Diana married Charles. I'm still waiting to hear back from St. Paul's Cathedral in London. We have put all our forms in, and we are just waiting on them to give us the day." 

Moreover, she divulged that her bridal attire would be a stunning creation crafted by her former Spice Girls bandmate, Victoria Beckham, adding a sentimental touch to her big day. The longtime judge of "America's Got Talent" gushed, "Once I get the date, I will go wedding dress shopping. Victoria Beckham wants to make me a dress."