In an article entitled "Mel B's heartbreak at being separated from daughter Madison after brutal custody battle" published on 9 November 2024, we published Melanie Brown's (Mel B's) claims of financial abuse by her ex-husband Stephen Belafonte. We stated that after the marriage, Mel B was left with just £700 in her account despite making more than £80 million throughout her career and that it had taken her five years to save enough money to move out of her mum's after securing a converted farmhouse in West Yorkshire. We also referred to the couple's custody battle over their daughter and the court's ruling that as a US citizen, she must stay in America with her father.

We would like to make clear that Mr Belafonte has always strongly denied Ms Brown's allegations of any abuse, including financial abuse, or any responsibility for Ms Brown's financial position following their marriage, and that Mr Belafonte has advised us that the allegations concerning him in the article are the subject of legal proceedings brought by him against Ms Brown in the US. We would also like to clarify that the court's ruling in relation to Mr Belafonte's custody over the couple's child was based on an assessment of her best interest.