To say that Mel B has had a rough couple of years is an understatement. In April 2017, the “America's Got Talent” judge, who loves to say “off the chain” and “what just happened,” praising hopeful talents for performances that are on point, endured her own very personal and public crisis with ex-husband, Stephen Belafonte. The unbearable pain of the dissolution of a marriage and its impact on a family was only amplified when revelations of Belafonte's alleged emotional and physical abuse came to light in headlines. Belafonte's false claim of being the son of Harry Belafonte was revealed and restraining orders were granted to protect Mel B, a.k.a.
Melanie Brown, and her children, including their six-year-old daughter, Madison, shared with Belafonte.
From the beginning of her 90s reign at the top of the pop world as Scary Spice, Mel B, 43, has personified feminine choice and strength in ways beyond being in a renowned all-girl group. In performance and in her professional opinions given from her judge’s seat between Howie Mandel and Heidi Klum on “America's Got Talent,” Mel B has maintained her characteristic brogue and buoyant spirit, but even in the talent competition this season, she has been inexplicably targeted by dark magic mistress, The Sacred Riana. That performer was voted off the competition last week, to the relief of most of the judges’ panel.
Her musical moniker didn't keep Mel B from being obviously and understandably frightened in many moments. Her emotions were on her sleeve in tender ways, too, as she remembered her father, who passed away last year.
Conflicting reports have surfaced according to news from USA Today and People on August 27 and August 28, and a longtime friend has come to Mel B’s defense in saying that while the emotional trauma of the past year has taken a toll, the star is very aware of her issues, and her inner strength.
In fact, Mel B will courageously go public with her decision to seek help on today's "Ellen" show and already has plans to take care of herself in “a proper therapy program, which is not solely focused on addiction, but also on the emotion and hurt beneath them.
Courage in confronting the pain
In a statement, over the weekend to The Sun in the UK, Mel B was very candid about reliving the pain of her marriage and her personal ordeal through writing a memoir for the past six months.
She described the process, however necessary, as being “unbelievably traumatic,” in relating the abusive relationship. She also confessed to “massive issues" in her life - issues she is not shying away from, but, instead, already preparing to address.
Like many caught in the cycle of abuse, whether emotional, physical, financial, or otherwise, Mel B confronts “drinking to numb my pain,” understanding that alcohol can only temporarily mask the devastation of hurt. Purportedly, Belafonte would continually demean Brown through any positive strides in her life or career, and those “beatdowns,” be they physical or emotional, can be impossible to rebound from without professional help.
Earlier this month, Brown and Belafonte reached a settlement in their divorce, with a provision that Mel B removes the domestic abuse allegations against Belafonte.
Coming to legal terms and signing a document does not confirm that harm never happened, and perhaps this closure can mark another new beginning for the working mom before she enters treatment.
Shining a light
Mel B's friend, Gary Madatyan, disputes the angle given to The Sun that sex addiction and alcohol are consuming the singer. Calling her “a great mother and a great friend,” Madatyan contends that Brown is mostly struggling with PTSD and the trauma of her ten-year marriage and divorce. He says that the singer has been in treatment for PTSD for “the past 4 to 5 weeks.”
Mel B admits to being at “a crisis point,” and has firm plans to address her issues full on, likely after the close of “America's Got Talent” for Season 13 on September 19.
As always, she wants to confront the situation in her own way, and that includes the location of her treatment. “It has to be in the UK, because I am very, very British, and I know that will work best for me.”
In every struggle, there is a greater purpose beyond the temporary pain, and Mel B definitely hopes to use her pain to help others, just as she encourages single mothers like Glennis Grace on “America's Got Talent.” “I am still struggling but if I can shine a light on the issue of pain, PTSD, and the things men and women do to mask it, I will do,” asserts Brown.
Those are words of a conqueror, so cheers to fighting on, Mel B.