Mel B Says She Can't Find Work In the US, Wants to Permanently Move Daughter to Home In UK
Mel B may have just reignited the bitter war with her ex-husband Stephen Belafonte after requesting to uproot their daughter from California and move her to the Spice Girl star's home in Leeds, England. According to court documents obtained by The Blast, Mel B is requesting to completely change the custody agreement regarding 8-year-old Madison Belafonte. The current agreement between the two gives Mel primary custody of Madison, but Stephen gets overnight custody every Wednesday, as well as every other weekend. Even though she wants to move Madison across the pond, Mel says she would like to provide Stephen, "reasonable visitation."
Mel B writes, "As the court is well aware, my marriage to Stephen was unhealthy. I was subjected to years of verbal and sexual abuse by Stephen, which included his active isolation of my daughters and me (including Madison) from my home and family in the United Kingdom."
Related:
Mel B Details Suicide Attempt During Marriage to Stephen Belafonte
Mel B Submits Two Clean Drug Tests in Custody Battle With Ex
Mel B and Stephen Belafonte Find a New Thing to Fight Over: Video Chatting
Mel B and Stephen Belafonte's Restaurant Serafina Loses Liquor License
Mel B and Stephen Belafonte Drop Another Million Off the Asking Price of Their Marital Home
No Work In the U.S.
The former judge on "America's Got Talent" explains that her U.S. Visa is expiring next year, and she has not been able to find a steady paycheck since "AGT" decided not to pick up her contract.
"My United States Visa expires in February 2020. I will not be permitted to work or live in the United States after that point. During my marriage to Stephen, we lived in Los Angeles, where I worked. However, all of my sources of income in the United States have been ll exhausted. My contract on the show, America’s Got Talent ended in September of 201 8 after 12 several years of my participation. I have not had steady income in the U.S. for over a year."
She Makes Money In the UK
Mel B says any income she generates is done across the pond, like her recent comeback tour with most of the OG members from the "Spice Girls."
"In May of 2019, I had show rehearsals with the Spice Girls, and in June and July, 4 we performed 13 shows in the United Kingdom, allowing me to generate my main source of income for the past year."
She claims Stephen Belafonte only began spending time with Madison again after the Spice Girls run, and that it would be financially devastating for her to remain in the United States.
"If I were forced to stay in the United States, I would be unable to maintain the standard of living to which Madison is accustomed. The rent for my two-bedroom apartment in 15 Los Angeles is in excess of 88,000. On top of rent, I have to pay for monthly living expenses, bills, and attorney’s fees and costs. With my contract with America’s Got Talent ending over a year ago, and my Visa expiring very quickly, it is impossible for me to continue living in the 18 United States."
She Moved In With Her Mom
Mel says she was trying to use the "momentum" from the Spice Girls shows to land a steady gig in the United Kingdom while living in her childhood home in Leeds, England. She is currently apartment hunting and believes she can find a place for around $3,600 per month.
The star says she recently secured a job on a UK television show called, "Celebrity Juice," and is hoping it will lead to a more steady income.
Worried About Daughter
As for dealing with Stephen, Mel B says she is not trying to keep Madison away from her father and is "concerned" he will make that claim. The singer says their daughter traveled from Los Angeles to the UK during the Spice Girls run, and also claims that Stephen travels constantly.
Mel is worried that if Stephen keeps their daughter full time in the United States, he will not foster a positive relationship and she fears that Madison will turn on her and refuse to spend any time together. She also claims Stephen suffers from seizures and his ongoing medical condition may be hazardous for Madison to bre around. The judge has not yet ruled on Mel B's request, but if the history between her and Stephen are any indication, it's going to be a messy argument.
