Mel B ‘facing her fears’ following ‘abusive’ marriage by joining endurance show

Mel B is determined to “face her fears” on the endurance show Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, following her “abusive” 10-year marriage.

The former Spice Girl, 47, appears in the new US series, which premiered on Wednesday, and shared that she is looking for a fresh start by taking part in the show.

Mel’s participation comes after she filed for divorce from her ex-husband Stephen Belafonte in 2017, following claims he abused her throughout their marriage. Belafonte has vehemently denied these allegations.

Speaking on the first episode, Mel said in a confessional: “I ended up being in a very horrible abusive 10-year relationship. I felt worthless, you feel helpless. I’m facing huge fears.”

Sharing her hopes on joining the show, she added: “I’m just going to bring out that inner person that I hope isn’t dead and gone.”

During the series premiere, Mel successfully completed a dive challenge, and later was seen attacking an instructor, who was protected by padding, before stopping immediately on command.

Mel previously spoke about suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following her claimed abusive marriage to Belafonte, and said she often has flashbacks from the relationship that leave her with “shame and fear”.

She told The Sun: “Nearly five years on I still wake up in the early hours with terrifying fragments of sounds and images flitting into my brain, things I’ve tried to block float to the surface – things that can still make me feel drenched in shame, sweat and fear.”

Mel said she had “zero self-esteem” during her relationship with Belafonte and turned to drink and drugs eventually, to “dull the pain”.

The music star married Belafonte in 2007, before splitting 10 years later, and the pair share a daughter named Madison Brown Belafonte, aged 11.

Mel also has two daughters Phoenix, 23, and Angel, 15, from her previous relationships with Jimmy Gulzar and Eddie Murphy respectively.

The artist has since raised awareness on domestic violence, having starred in short films and campaigns on the topic, and received an MBE last year for her charity work supporting abuse sufferers.

Mel stars in Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test along with several stars, hoping to face their own fears, including Real Housewives of Atlanta alum Kendra Moore and Jamie Lynn Spears.