An ambassador for Women's Aid, the Spice Girls member stops by 10 Downing Street with a mission to 'make it easier for women to break free of their abusive relationships.'
- Mar 7, 2019
AceShowbiz - Melanie Brown a.k.a. Mel B has paid a visit to the official residence of the British Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday, March 05 as part of her mission to help domestic violence victims.
The Spice Girls star, who claimed she was abused by her former husband Stephen Belafonte during their marriage between 2007 and 2017, headed to the U.K. Government headquarters at 10 Downing Street as part of her role as an ambassador for Women's Aid, a charity which aims to end domestic violence.
The 43-year-old delivered their The Economics of Abuse report, which revealed that two thirds of survivors were economically exploited and often left penniless by their abusers, and sat down for a meeting with May's team about how the Government can help women "break free" from the financial constraints which keep them in abusive relationships.
"This is Women's Aid's mission and I am part of their mission to help make it easier for women to break free of those abusive relationships, and to understand that there is support," the singer told Britain's The Sun newspaper. "They are pushing to get laws changed and made that are going to protect and help these women when they have left."
The "America's Got Talent" judge revealed that she can sympathise with the women as she was left with only $936 (£712) in her account after she left her 10-year marriage, despite her amassing a multi-million dollar fortune, and had to rely on friends for help.
"I had no money to buy Christmas presents so I had help from my best friend who bought all the Christmas dinner for me and bought all the kids presents and stuff," she said. "I had no money left. I was appalled - I wasn't even a signee on one of my bank accounts."
She added that she didn't realise how bad the alleged abuse was until she walked away from the relationship.
"I didn't until I left and then there is the whole reality of - oh my gosh he has done this, this this and this - beyond just physical abuse," she said.
Mel made her domestic violence allegations against Stephen when she filed for divorce in March 2017 and throughout their bitter court battle. He has always denied the claims.
