Mel B. is FIGHTING for her daughter, Madison.
The Spice Girl demanded primary custody of her 11-year-old daughter, who she shares with her ex-husband, Stephen Belafonte. She also threw an Uno reverse card by requesting he submits to a random drug and alcohol test due to concerns over his ability to care for their daughter, according to Radar Online.
Mel and Stephen married in 2007, resulting in a nasty divorce in 2017, where Mel accused her former lover of domestic abuse. Stephen denied the claims. While Mel (Melanie Janine Brown) had two children prior to their marriage, the two only had Madison.
Mel allegedly got primary custody over Madison, but everything changed when her work visa expired, forcing her to return to the UK. Stephen has primary custody of the 11-year-old, who travels to the UK to visit her mother for holidays and school breaks.
For months, Stephen accused Mel of having erratic behavior and demanded the court prevent her from consuming alcohol in their daughter’s presence. Mel denied his allegations.
Her current demand for primary guardianship came after Stephen asked the court’s permission to move from Los Angeles to Miami.
The singer wants the court to approve an 80/20 arrangement, where Madison spends 80 percent of her time in the UK with her mother and 20 percent with her father.
She also wants the court to force Stephen to undergo a random drug and alcohol test due to concerns about his parenting capability.
“Madison’s sisters, Angel and Phoenix, relocated with me to the U.K., where we live minutes from nearly all of our friends and family,” Mel wrote in her request. “Moving to the U.K. without Madison was devastating for the girls and me. The three girls have always had a very close relationship and enjoy spending time together. Madison would thrive socially, emotionally, and academically if she were permitted to live with me and her sisters in the U.K. during the school year.”
She firmly stood on the UK being the best option for Madison.
“I have serious concerns about Stephen’s ability to care for Madison in a manner consistent with her best interests. Stephen continuously attempts to alienate Madison from her sisters and me,” the Spice Girl wrote.
Mel accused Stephen, a film and TV producer and director, of leaving Madison in the care of a “revolving door” of strangers.
“Stephen also lacks transparency with respect to Madison’s living conditions, doctors’ appointments, therapy, and schooling. He refuses to co-parent with me,” Mel stated. “For example, he has never provided me with any information about Madison’s living situation in Los Angeles. I do not know whether Madison has her own bedroom, what her room looks like, or even where she lives, as he has lied about their living situation countless times.”
