*Mel B has scored a temporary legal victory in her ongoing $5 million defamation lawsuit with ex-husband Stephen Belafonte. According to court documents, the former Spice Girl successfully petitioned a federal judge to pause the discovery process until a decision is made on her motion to dismiss the case entirely, InTouch reports.
Belafonte filed suit against the singer last year, accusing her of making “false and defamatory” claims of abuse throughout their 10-year marriage, which ended in 2017. In his complaint, he alleged Mel B portrayed him as a “monster” in her memoir “Brutally Honest” and during media appearances, falsely accusing him of physical abuse, rape, emotional manipulation, and even illegal gun possession. He is seeking $5 million in damages, citing harm to his reputation.
In response, Mel B maintained that the allegations she made were truthful and described herself as a survivor of years of abuse. Her legal team argued that she “escaped [Stephen’s] all-encompassing grip” and now uses her voice to advocate for women in similar situations.
As part of the lawsuit, Belafonte requested a broad scope of documents and answers from Mel, including financial records dating back to 2007, a decade’s worth of Amazon purchases, communications regarding her abuse allegations, and even a list of all drugs she consumed, prescribed or otherwise, during their marriage.
Mel’s lawyers described the discovery requests as invasive and unnecessary, especially before the court rules on whether the lawsuit should proceed.
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“While proceeding to discovery in this case would occasion significant costs, a temporary stay would produce virtually no harm,” her attorney stated, pointing out that Belafonte had already shown “little urgency” in pursuing the case since its filing.
On April 3, the judge agreed and issued a stay on discovery pending the outcome of Mel’s motion to dismiss. The legal battle continues, but for now, Mel B won’t be compelled to hand over her personal records.
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