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Hubby denies hitting ‘bruised’ judge Mel B

Stephen slams rumours as 'quite disgusting'

MEL B’s husband has denied hitting the X Factor judge after Twitter rumours
circulated over her mystery illness.

Stephen Belafonte slammed claims he had hurt the former Spice Girl as “quite
disgusting”.

Idon’t usually respond to Twitter msgs but I will respond to comments of hitting my wife which I think are quite disgusting un true!

— Stephen Belafonte (@Stephenthinks1)

Mel, who
returned for the X Factor final last night
, was seen without her
wedding ring during the TV appearance.

The 39-year-old former Spice Girl had been “very ill”, Belafonte wrote.

He also said critics were not “real fans”.

Millions tuned into watch van
driver Ben Haenow clinch the X Factor crown
. But Mel B appeared
 unwell on the show after her three-day stint in hospital.

X FACTOR MEL B

ITV
2

When asked by host Dermot O’Leary if she felt better. she answered: “Yeah…ish”.

The former Spice Girl, who got a huge cheer, sparked concerns among fans
commenting on an apparent “bruise” on her face.

Mel did not reveal why she had been in A&E after her collapse on Thursday.

She said: “I really missed being here, but a big ‘thank you’ to the
doctors and nurses who got me here tonight.”

Fans on Twitter commented on her fragile appearance.

Mel was very ill a bunch of doctors helped her get better if fans can’t just relax B4 being negative they r not real fans of

— Stephen Belafonte (@Stephenthinks1)

@jolearynash asked: “Is it me or has Mel B got a big patch of dirty makeup or
a bruise on her face?”

Fellow judge Cheryl Fernandez-Versini was quick to support Mel, who missed her
act — Italian Andrea Faustini, 20 — getting the boot on Saturday’s show.

Asked her best moment from the series, Cheryl held up Mel’s hand and said:
“Probably getting to know this one.”

Saturday’s stand-in judge Tulisa Contostavlos also tweeted: “So pleased Mel is
well and back! Have a good one babe.”

Mel B later skipped spin-off show The Xtra Factor where Simon Cowell said:
“She’s a trooper — she did great.”

Mel’s chauffeur rushed her to hospital after she screamed in agony with
stomach pains on her way to auditions.

Hours before her return, Mel’s family launched a furious attack on her husband
Stephen Belafonte, 39, X Factor boss Simon Cowell and her PR firm.

Distraught mum Andrea and sister Danielle begged them for details about Mel’s
condition and which hospital she was in.

Actress Danielle tweeted: “This is ridiculous and cruel — evil. How can no one
tell me and my family where my sister is and what is going on? Just a simple
call to say she’s ok is all it takes.

“I am beyond desperate and this should be a private family matter. But we
don’t know what else to do.”

Mel-b-x-factor-final

ITV
2

In a dig at Mel’s hubby, Danielle added: “Stop, Stephen.

“You told me and mum yesterday she is fine and not in hospital. I’ve recorded
all your calls for the past week. Where is my sister?”

Stephen was not seen at the hospital since Mel’s collapse.

Yesterday he was seen walking to the shops from the central London home he and
Mel share with her daughters Phoenix Chi, 15, Angel, seven, and Madison,
three.

He refused to discuss Mel’s condition.

Last night a source close to the star said: “It’s extraordinary that she is
doing a live TV show for more than two hours after spending three nights in
hospital.”