Stephen Belafonte plans to see Mel B in court.
The film producer sat down with Page Six exclusively Wednesday after filing a $5 million defamation lawsuit against the pop star, whose real name is Melanie Brown, and vehemently denied ever abusing his ex-wife despite her years-long claims of domestic violence.
“Never, not once. We never had a physical argument. We never had anything close to it,” Belafonte insisted, “and to think that I was this monster … I’m a goofball.”
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The “Thank You for Smoking” producer shared that his father abused his mother, which has resulted in him becoming a more doting dad to his and Brown’s 12-year-old daughter, Madison, of whom he has full custody.
“That’s why I’m the way I am as a father. I don’t believe in that,” he told us, “and I’m totally, totally for anybody who does do it for them; they get the maximum extent of [punishment for] whatever they’ve done.”
Belafonte, 49, also implored the Spice Girl, also 49, not to “try to get out of this one,” as he is demanding a trial by jury.
“Please do not try to say, ‘Oh, he’s being abusive and the court system is going to be against me.’ Go to court and show the world your evidence,'” he said, addressing Brown.
“Don’t try to settle. I ask you, please bring your evidence. Come to court and show the world that everything that you said, the thousand lies out there, you’re gonna have to back them all up,” he continued.
“See you in court.”
The director-producer, who claimed in his lawsuit that the former “America’s Got Talent” judge suffered from severe substance abuse issues throughout their marriage, acknowledged he was not aware if she was still using drugs or alcohol but alleged she would try to hit or “throw things at him” when she was drunk.
Brown had no comment in response to Belafonte’s accusations.
Although Belafonte is suing the “Wannabe” singer for the seven-figure sum plus other damages, he told us he plans to donate all of his winnings — minus legal fees — to battered women’s shelters in the UK and US.
Brown filed for divorce from Belafonte in 2017 after nearly a decade of marriage. The divorce began amicably but quickly became acrimonious after the “Spice World” actress accused him of abusing and sexually exploiting her.
Brown received a restraining order but ultimately withdrew it. The pair finalized their divorce in August 2018, and the “Spice Up Your Life” singer had to pay Belafonte’s $350,000 legal fees.
