Fans have rushed to support Mel B after the singer shared a number of harrowing posts on social media.
The former Spice Girl has previously spoken out about the alleged physical and emotional abuse she suffered at the hands of her ex-husband Stephen Belafonte. In a memoir published in 2018, she recounted her marriage to the film producer, saying she had feared for her life.
In 2022, she was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to charitable causes and vulnerable women. This week, the 47-year-old decided to highlight how domestic abuse can affect family members.
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Posting an excerpt of her book, Mel shared how her daughter from her marriage to Dutch dancer Jimmy Gulzar, was forced to witness Stephen allegedly abusing her, calling her names and attacking the family dog.
A harrowing post of Phoenix's account on Mel B's Twitter page reads: "There are things I can’t forget. I was maybe 14 or 15, I was in my bedroom. I could hear them fighting. My mum came downstairs to the kitchen followed by Stephen.
"I looked through the crack halfway up the stairs – where I could just see the kitchen – to check if everything was OK, which it was, then returned to my room. Then I heard more screaming and her shouting, ‘Stop, get off,’ and heard little thumps.
"I went to the stairs again and saw Stephen with his pants down and my mum pushed over the couch. I froze, but then I just went back. This was my family life."
Another post details how Phoenix, now 23, witnessed fights, "out-of-control drinking" and allegedly overheard Stephen calling her mum a "fat b****’, "ugly c***" or ‘"stupid". She claimed that at one point, their family dog Lordy got beaten by Stephen and thrown in the pool.
Speaking of their relationship, Phoenix said there is still a lot they don't talk about despite their close bond. The post ends with the words: "Of all the people in the world, the only person I want respect from is my mum. I never really say this to her, but as a woman I think she is a hero."
Mel B has shared the quotes to her Instagram story, adding how proud she is of her daughter and the work she now does to help people who may have witnessed similar abuse.
Many of Mel's fans rushed to show their support following the string of deeply upsetting posts. @Katyschnitzler said: "I’m so sorry for the abuse you and your daughter have endured. You were my inspiration growing up, and made me believe I could be anything despite gender barriers.
"Now you’re empowering women in the worst situations - using your experience to help others is the biggest strength." @whispernghope commented: "This breaks my heart. I went through a very similar thing. It kills me to think of what my young children heard and saw and how it has affected their lives…I am so very glad that you and your girls are safe and healing now!"
And @Blue2016Blue wrote: "Sending you and your girls, nothing but love." Mel is now happily engaged to Leeds hairdresser Rory McPhee. Speaking about her fiancé, Mel previously said: "For the first time in my life, I'm engaged to a beautiful, honest person who makes me feel protected, nurtured and so loved, and I want to savour that."
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