Mel B's Wedding Talent: What Went Wrong?

Mel B, also known as Melanie Brown, rose to fame in the 1990s as a member of the Spice Girls. Since then, she has become a television personality and talent show judge, appearing on shows such as America's Got Talent, The X Factor, and Dancing with the Stars. In 2017, during her time as a judge on America's Got Talent, Mel B walked off stage after her fellow judge Simon Cowell made a crude joke about her wedding night, alluding to her ongoing divorce from her estranged husband, Stephen Belafonte.

Simon Cowell's joke about Mel B's wedding night

During an episode of America's Got Talent in 2017, Simon Cowell made a joke about Mel B's wedding night. The joke was made after a magician, Demian Aditya, suffered a technical malfunction during his performance.

Cowell, 57, made the following comment:

> I kind of imagine this would be like Mel B’s wedding night. A lot of anticipation, not much promise or delivery.

Mel B, who was in the middle of a divorce from her estranged husband, Stephen Belafonte, did not appreciate the comment. She threw her glass of water at Cowell and stormed off the set, ripping her dress in the process.

Host Tyra Banks commented on the incident, saying:

> Mel B is out. This is live TV, y'all. Live TV.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight after the show, Mel B said:

> He should know, if you say something inappropriate he’s gonna get like, stuff thrown at him. In a friendly way. I made sure there was no ice in it this time… just fizzy water.

Cowell later addressed the incident, saying he didn't regret the joke and that he thought Mel B would have found it funny. He added:

> I was the one who got soaked, so I should be mad at her. She's fine. I'm fine. Just one of those things, Terri. We got over it.

Mel B's reaction to Simon Cowell

Mel B and Simon Cowell have had a famously tumultuous relationship during their time as fellow judges on America's Got Talent. In 2017, Cowell made a joke critiquing escape artist Demian Aditya's performance, saying, "I kind of think it will be like Mel B's wedding night. A lot of anticipation, not much promise." This was in reference to Mel B's ongoing divorce proceedings with her then-husband, Stephen Belafonte, whom she had accused of domestic violence. Understandably, Mel B was shocked by Cowell's comment and threw a glass of water over him before storming off the set.

Despite this incident, Mel B and Cowell have also had moments of genuine affection for each other. During the premiere of the AGT spinoff, America's Got Talent: Fantasy League, Cowell confessed to Mel B, "Can I be honest with you? I've actually missed you." This was met with delight from Mel B, who responded with a "See! See!" and a friendly pat on the back.

Cowell has also expressed excitement about Mel B's return to the AGT panel for the spinoff, stating that she is "very unpredictable, very competitive," and that her presence makes the show "interesting." He also praised her as a "big part" of the Spice Girls' success and described her as "really, really smart" and "funny."

Overall, while Mel B and Cowell have had their fair share of disagreements, there is also a level of mutual respect and camaraderie between the two.

Mel B's divorce from Stephen Belafonte

In 2017, Mel B filed for divorce from her husband of ten years, Stephen Belafonte. The former Spice Girl member listed the date of separation as December 28 and asked for joint legal and physical custody of their daughter, Madison Brown Belafonte. In addition, the America's Got Talent judge requested to terminate the court's ability to award spousal support.

Throughout their marriage, Mel B had been very vocal about everything from their sex life to denying domestic abuse allegations. In 2014, she appeared on the finale of the U.K. version of The X Factor with what appeared to be bruises, and speculation went into overdrive that she and her husband were on the skids. Mel B denied the rumours, writing on Instagram, "I'm very good was very polly but much better now and for the record, my hubby would never lay a hand on me."

In 2017, Mel B alleged that Belafonte abused her during their 10-year marriage. "I wasn't just emotionally and physically abused, there was all the financial abuse too," she said. "I didn't realise that I didn't have as much money as I thought I had. So I literally had to eat humble pie, live with my mum." She also claimed that Belafonte punched her "with a closed fist in the face causing my lip to split and then swell" while she was taping The X Factor Australia in 2012.

Belafonte has denied all allegations of abuse and has filed a $5 million defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife. He currently has full custody of their daughter, Madison.

Mel B's book, 'Brutally Honest'

Mel B's Book, Brutally Honest

Melanie Brown, also known as Mel B or Scary Spice, has been an international star since her twenties. In her memoir, "Brutally Honest", she reveals the truth behind the headlines of her life, including her time with the Spice Girls, her abusive marriage, and her 10-year struggle to be free.

The book exposes the struggles and acute pain that lay behind the glamour and success of her career. With deep personal insight, remarkable frankness, and trademark Yorkshire humour, the book removes the mask of fame and reveals the true story of the Spice Girls, as well as the horror of her most recent marriage.

"Brutally Honest" details Mel B's chilling downward spiral during her ten-year emotionally abusive marriage, her childhood, and her rise to fame. It traces a path through the key moments in her life, reflecting on her childhood, rise to fame, and her chilling downward spiral before she finally broke free.

The book also includes chapters written by Mel B's daughter, Phoenix, and her mother, Andrea, providing insight into how the abuse affected her family.

Mel B's story is one of survival and courage, as she escaped a life of abuse and worked to piece herself back together. Since the release of "Brutally Honest", she has become a champion for survivors of abuse, speaking at Westminster, 10 Downing Street, and party conferences. She was also awarded an MBE for services to vulnerable women.

Mel B's work as an anti-domestic abuse campaigner

Melanie Brown, better known as Mel B, has been a vocal anti-domestic abuse campaigner since her divorce from film producer Stephen Belafonte in 2017. Brown, who was known as Scary Spice while performing with the Spice Girls, has worked with the charity Women's Aid, telling her story about domestic abuse and encouraging others to do the same. She has also made a film about domestic abuse, titled 'Love Should Not Hurt'.

Brown has been open about the abuse she suffered during her 10-year marriage to Belafonte, which included physical, sexual, verbal, and financial abuse. She has said that she felt ashamed and embarrassed about the abuse and didn't feel like she could tell anyone. She has also admitted that she tried to leave Belafonte seven times but felt that she had nowhere to go and that her lack of financial independence made it difficult to escape.

In her work as a campaigner, Brown has urged HR teams to learn how to spot the signs of domestic abuse so that they can help their employees. She has also written about her experiences, including a powerful op-ed for The Independent in 2023, inspired by the ITV series Happy Valley. In it, she wrote about her experience of self-medicating with drink and drugs to cope with the abuse.

Brown received an MBE in 2022 for services to charitable causes and vulnerable women, and became a patron of Women's Aid in 2018. She has said that her work as a campaigner has led to more women coming forward to share their own stories of abuse with her.

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