Scary Spice files for divorce from Stephen Belafonte after a tumultuous marriage ================================================================================ ![Scary Spice files for divorce from Stephen Belafonte after a tumultuous marriage](https://vardags.com/images/pictures/_360/3d090ab3faf27a6c18c3ab03da86088b.jpeg)Melanie Brown, best known as Scary Spice from the iconic British girl band Spice Girls, has filed for divorce from film producer Stephen Belafonte. After nearly ten years of marriage, Mel B, 41, [cited 'irreconcilable differences'](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/21/former-spice-girl-mel-b-moves-divorce-husband-stephen-belafonte/) in her divorce petition, with the separation dated 28th December 2016. Mel B and Stephen Belafonte married in Las Vegas in June 2007 after a five-month romance. Together they have a five-year-old daughter, Madison. Mel B also has a nine-year old daughter Angel from her brief affair with Eddie Murphey, and another daughter, Phoenix, from her first marriage to dancer Jimmy Gulzar, who is now eighteen. Belafonte also has a daughter, Giselle, from a previous partnership. [The Daily Mail reports](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4333352/Mel-B-files-DIVORCE-husband-Stephen-Belafonte.html) that Mel B is instructing the top family lawyer Susan Wiesner for her divorce, whose previous clients include Bon Jovi's guitarist Richie Sambora, Ben Harper and Lara Embry. Mel B has asked for joint legal and physical custody of Madison and has requested that the judge denies Belafonte spousal support. The relationship between Mel B and Stephen Belafonte has never run smoothly. After ostentatiously renewing their wedding vows in Egypt in 2008, rumours of rows and violence continued to cloud their marriage. Suspicion was stoked in 2014 when Mel B appeared on X Factor UK with bruises on her face and arms, but Belafonte vehemently denied any abuse. However, he had previously failed to contest a charge of domestic violence when he was accused of beating his long-term partner Nicole in a drunken fit in 2003. When this story emerged, Mel B in fact jumped to defend Belafonte. In January this year, Belafonte was spotted with his arm wrapped around a woman's waist in a restaurant in Manhattan before driving off together. Strangely, the divorce comes only six weeks after Mel B tweeted a photo of the pair looking thoroughly loved-up with the confession: My baby boo @stephenthinks11 we have been through everything that would normally tear couples apart and we have come out on the other side stronger, you loved me before I even new how to really love myself, you are my world honey and let's not forget you are a bit of a d\*\*\*head too xxxx < Although, according to [The Sun](https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/3137801/mel-b-files-divorce-husband-stephen-belafonte-10-year-marriage/), Mel B commented in an interview last year "I've already had one failed marriage so I definitely don't want to have another one", this story is proof of the unpredictability of marriage. Despite all the turbulence witnessed and alleged throughout the marriage, the fact that Mel B is still citing 'irreconcilable differences' in the US courts marks a stark contrast to the UK system. Here, until [no-fault divorce](https://vardags.com/family-law/no-fault-divorce/)is legislated, couples who may have had relatively peaceable partnerships are forced to find some 'unreasonable behaviour' to be able to secure a divorce. Vardags' team of [top divorce lawyers serving celebrities](https://vardags.com/team/specialist-divorce-lawyers/celebrities-divorce) delivers a bespoke legal service to HNW and UHNW individuals, their families, and businesses. "Ayesha Vardag - Britain's top divorce lawyer." ![The Huffington Post](https://vardags.com/images/logo/huffpost.png) "Ayesha Vardag - Woman of the Year"![GG2](https://vardags.com/images/logo/gg2-3.png) "Leading, Magic Circle law firm."Mr Justice Coleridge "A handful of firms dominate the so-called 'glamour' end of the market ... Vardags"The Times "One of the best divorce lawyers in the country"Marie Claire "Ayesha Vardag - 'diva of divorce' for the world's super rich" ![BBC](https://vardags.com/images/logo/bbc.png) "Dr Stephen Bence is a financial genius."Lewis Marks KC "Ayesha Vardag - the Queen of divorce"Daily Mail "Vardags brilliantly argued my case to a resounding victory"Pauline Chai (client) "Britain's top divorce lawyer" ![The Telegraph](https://vardags.com/images/logo/telegraph.png) More Divorce news ----------------- [Swedish hotel offers refunds for marital breakdown](https://vardags.com/family-law/divorce-hotel-refunds-sweden "Swedish hotel offers refunds for marital breakdown") [South Carolina judge rules that same-sex couple had common law marriage](https://vardags.com/family-law/south-carolina-judge-same-sex-couple-common-law-marriage "South Carolina judge rules that same-sex couple had common law marriage") [Scary Spice files for divorce from Stephen Belafonte after a tumultuous marriage](https://vardags.com/family-law/scary-spice-divorce-stephen-belafonte "Scary Spice files for divorce from Stephen Belafonte after a tumultuous marriage") [Scarlett Johansson 'files for divorce' from husband Romain Dauriac](https://vardags.com/family-law/scarlett-johansson-files-divorce-husband-romain-dauriac "Scarlett Johansson 'files for divorce' from husband Romain Dauriac") [Chinese villagers divorce en masse to take advantage of government compensation loophole](https://vardags.com/family-law/chinese-villagers-divorce-compensation-loophole "Chinese villagers divorce en masse to take advantage of government compensation loophole") Articles by Olivia Burns ------------------------ [Vardags has a sweet tooth for Red Nose Day](https://vardags.com/posts/vardags-sweet-tooth-red-nose-day "Vardags has a sweet tooth for Red Nose Day") [Best friends legally become 'co-mommas' for the first time in Canada](https://vardags.com/family-law/best-friends-legally-become-co-mommas-canada "Best friends legally become co-mommas for the first time in Canada") [Scary Spice files for divorce from Stephen Belafonte after a tumultuous marriage](https://vardags.com/family-law/scary-spice-divorce-stephen-belafonte "Scary Spice files for divorce from Stephen Belafonte after a tumultuous marriage") [Forced Marriage Unit 2016 statistics released](https://vardags.com/family-law/forced-marriage-unit-2016-statistics-released "Forced Marriage Unit 2016 statistics released") [Holman J calls Facebook "a useful tool in the armoury" in adoption proceedings](https://vardags.com/family-law/holman-j-calls-facebook-useful-tool-adoption-proceedings "Holman J calls Facebook a useful tool in the armoury in adoption proceedings")