Mel B says seeing daughter Madison only on breaks is like 'having arm cut off'

23 February 2024 , 23:38

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Mel B says seeing daughter Madison only on breaks is like 'having arm cut off'

Mel B shared the heartache she feels at only being able to see her youngest daughter Madison on school holidays.

The iconic Spice Girl, known as Scary Spice, shares 12-year-old Madison with her abusive ex-husband Stephen Belafonte. She also has a 16-year-old daughter named Angel from her relationship with Eddie Murphy and a 25-year-old named Phoenix from her marriage to dancer Jimmy Gulzar.

She recently opened up about navigating her life after leaving her abusive and controlling husband after a decade-long marriage in 2017, with the star having to share a bed with her three children after moving into her mum's bungalow. After a couple of years, she got back on her feet and moved out to start a new life.

Mel also discussed the pain of having to be separated from Madison as the courts ruled that, as the child is a US citizen, she would have to live with her dad Stephen - who also has a 19-year-old daughter called Giselle. Due to the custody arrangement, the singer can only see her youngest on school holidays.

Madison (front) is Mel's youngest daughter (AFP/Getty Images)

Mel talked about her heartache at only seeing Madison on school holidays (@broadimage / SplashNews.com)

Speaking about being away from her daughter as reported by The Sun, she said: "It is like having an arm cut off. She is my baby. I have spent a fortune on legal battles but at least she spends big chunks of time here. In the eyes of the court, I’m the big earner and have to pay his court fees as well as my own.

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“I’ve been campaigning through my work on behalf of Women’s Aid for the court system to better understand financial abuse.” In the summer of 2018, Mel reached a divorce settlement which involved all abuse charges being dropped. Last year, Mel B - who is a campaigner and spokesperson for abuse survivor charity Women’s Aid - said she suffered for a long time during her time with Stephen despite being 'very good at hiding things.'

Speaking on Newsnight, the singer openly admitted that she has never been able to escape the trauma of the abuse she suffered, saying that she will live with it 'for the rest of her life'. She said: "But I was you know, I was in it for 10 years, I was very good at hiding things, especially anything to do with my then-husband, and what I was going home to or what I'd just come from."

*For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk

Zara Woodcock