Former Spice Girls member Mel B recently opened up about her dark past and remarkable recovery. The singer revealed details about her suicide attempt, PTSD diagnosis, and newfound love in a candid interview with Us Weekly published on May 13.
“I can’t deny that’s what I went through. That person’s still there, and I give her a hug when she crops up every now and again,” Mel B told the outlet, reflecting on her painful journey.
The 49-year-old British pop star, whose real name is Melanie Brown, has transformed her trauma into strength. She now shares her story of survival and healing after escaping what she describes as an abusive marriage.
From Suicide Attempt to Survival: Mel B’s Darkest Moments
Mel B’s marriage to Stephen Belafonte from 2007 to 2017 was marked by tremendous suffering. In her memoir “Brutally Honest,” she revealed that she attempted suicide in 2014 by ingesting nearly 200 pills.
“I would never go to that dark place again,” she firmly stated in the interview. “I have the tools to be able to acknowledge it and say ‘I’m sorry’ to that person, which is me, and not allow myself to feel like that. Because I’m better than that.”
During their final year together, Mel B obtained a temporary restraining order against Belafonte. She accused him of physical and emotional abuse, along with threats to leak sex tapes. These serious allegations became part of a bitter divorce battle that continued long after their separation.
Legal Battles and Financial Aftermath of Abusive Marriage
The divorce settlement in August 2018 came with significant financial obligations for the singer. Mel B was ordered to pay Belafonte $5,000 monthly in child support for their daughter Madison, now 13.
Additionally, the court mandated $15,000 monthly in spousal support. She also had to cover his $350,000 attorney fees, creating substantial financial pressure during an already difficult time.
Belafonte has consistently denied all abuse allegations. In 2024, he filed a $5 million defamation lawsuit against Mel B, extending their legal conflicts years after their divorce was finalized.
PTSD Recovery Through Innovative Therapy and Self-Care
Shortly before releasing her memoir in 2018, Mel B checked into rehab following her father’s death. The combined grief and stress from reliving abuse details in court led to her post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis.
The singer has developed effective strategies to manage her PTSD symptoms. “I have music. Candles and incense. I like things to feel cozy because my work, which I love and don’t really call work, is so [fast-paced],” she explained.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy has been particularly helpful in her recovery journey. “Talking is reliving it. EMDR eases that pain without words. For me, it was much more healing than any other therapy,” Mel B shared about this specialized treatment approach.
Finding Love Again with Hairstylist Rory McPhee
Mel B’s path to healing became intertwined with finding love again. She began dating family friend and hairstylist Rory McPhee around 2018, and the couple became engaged in 2022.
Their relationship started during a symbolic moment of transformation. McPhee helped tend to her hair after she cut it off and dyed it blonde to remove reminders of her ex-husband. “As [Rory] was nurturing my curls, he was nurturing my belief in love again and trust,” she recalled.
Building trust wasn’t easy after her traumatic marriage. “Up until two years ago, I was like, ‘You can find somebody else. I’m too broken.’ Rory goes, ‘Melanie, I’m not going anywhere. Because I absolutely love you,'” she shared, highlighting his persistence and patience.
Building a Safe Future After Years of Trauma
Mel B credits McPhee’s “compassion and understanding” as qualities that make him the right partner for her. Their relationship represents safety after years of feeling unsafe.
“He’s very special,” she said of McPhee. “He’s a very confident man, and that, to me, is a man. He makes me feel so safe — I didn’t realize how unsafe I felt because that became normal to me.”
Before Belafonte, Mel B was married to dancer Jimmy Gulzar, father of her 26-year-old daughter Phoenix. She also has an 18-year-old daughter, Angel, with actor Eddie Murphy. Today, she focuses on her family, career, and continued healing while sharing her story to help others.
