Content warning: This post contains and account of domestic abuse which may be triggering for some readers.
Just weeks after former Spice Girl Mel B filed for divorce from her husband of almost 10 years, Stephen Belafonte, upsetting accusations of ongoing physical and emotional abuse have emerged.
The 41-year-old, whose full name is Melanie Brown, took out a restraining order against Belafonte on Monday according to entertainment website TMZ, which has published a list of claims reportedly made by the singer in court documents.
The documents paint a disturbing picture of a relationship marred by violence over many years, with the first alleged incident taking place as far back as November 2007.
On the night of the Dancing with the Stars finale, Brown reportedly claimed her partner choked her and slammed her head into the hardwood floor while she was getting ready at home to let her know “he was in charge”.
In July 2012, Belafonte allegedly flew off the handle again during taping for X Factor, punching her in the face with a closed fist and splitting her lip after accusing her of 'flirting' with Usher.
In other reported incidents, Brown was "forced participate in sexual intercourse with him and random women" which Belafonte allegedly secretly recorded on film. Brown alleges Belafonte threatened to release the footage if she tried to resist threesomes.
There were several more alleged physical attacks and emotional abuse was also reportedly rife.
By 2014, Brown was suffering so badly from "emotional and physical exhaustion" she claimed to take an entire bottle of aspirin.
When she tried to call an ambulance, her husband allegedly blocked her and told her to "die, b*tch."