Mel B Finds Hope in Fiancé Rory McPhee's Love After a Decade of Devastating Abuse (Exclusive)
Mel B, in an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, bravely shares how her fiancé, Rory McPhee, has helped her rediscover love after enduring a decade of profound abuse Discover the inspiring story of Mel B's journey to healing and finding happiness again
After enduring years of unhappiness, Melanie “Mel B” Brown is now allowing love to guide her journey. In an exclusive interview with We, the 48-year-old America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League judge spoke openly about the challenges she faced before finding love with her fiancé Rory McPhee. Brown revealed, "I had lost faith in love and trust due to enduring ten years of severe abuse. After coming out of that situation, I was hesitant to pursue a relationship. My self-esteem and confidence were shattered, and I had to work hard to rebuild myself."
The Spice Girl has been candid about the challenges in her past marriage to ex Stephen Belafonte, whom she accuses of emotional and physical abuse. In her memoir Brutally Honest, Brown revealed that she attempted suicide while Belafonte, her manager at the time, threatened to release a collection of sex tapes. The couple, who were married for 10 years before Brown filed for divorce in 2017, share daughter Madison, 12.
“I couldn't imagine being with someone else, but Rory is a family friend, so I already trust and have that foundation,” the mother of three — who also has Phoenix, 24, with ex-husband Jimmy Gulzar and Angel, 16, with Eddie Murphy — added. “It just felt safe, right, and authentic, even though I often thought, ‘No, I don’t want a relationship, I can’t handle it.’”
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Following a three-year courtship, McPhee popped the question in 2022 while on a romantic retreat in Berkshire, U.K. — and Brown informed Us that she has finally found her Happily Ever After. "He has truly been the greatest thing that has ever happened to me," she revealed. "He has restored my faith in love and trust."
Another perk to locking down the hairstylist? “He got my curls flowing again!” she quipped.
Courtesy of Rory McPhee/Instagram
Brown, who was awarded an MBE for her work with domestic violence victims in 2022, excitedly discussed her upcoming wedding at St. Paul's Cathedral in London, even though a date has not been set. "I'm waiting on that and then I can go full steam ahead," she said about wedding planning.
Whether she gets married in 2024 or not, it's already set to be a busy year for Brown. In addition to teasing an upcoming Spice Girls project and the re-release of Brutally Honest with new chapters in March, she is also enjoying her return to the America's Got Talent judging panel for the show's spinoff, AGT: Fantasy League.
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"It has been five or six years since I last sat on the [America's Got Talent] panel, so when they approached me to come back, I thought, 'Oh, this is perfect timing for me,'" she explains. "I have truly missed it, to be honest - now feels like the right time."
America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League airs on NBC Mondays at 8 p.m. ET
