Spice Girl Mel B bids final farewell to her father after healing rift which tore family apart
HEARTBROKEN Spice Girls star Mel B bid a final farewell to her father, after healing the bitter rift which tore their family apart.
The former X Factor judge, 41, was spotted at Los Angeles’ LAX airport on Thursday to fly back to the UK with her three daughters ahead of the funeral.
Other attendees at the memorial service for her dad Martin Brown in Mel’s home city of Leeds included Spice Girls bandmate Emma Bunton and reality TV star Kerry Katona.
But recently estranged husband Stephen Belafonte, 41, remained home in Los Angeles after the pair confirmed plans to divorce.
Several of the Spice Girls’ mums were also expected to attend after getting to know dad Martin Brown while the girls toured the world.
A source said: “The funeral was planned to be a low key affair, but with the family all back on good terms it looked like things would be very peaceful and sensitively done.
“It’s obviously been a very tough time after Martin’s passing – but they’re so pleased to be back together as a family.”
News of Mel and Stephen’s break-up emerged early this week when paperwork confirmed her divorce bid and application for joint custody of their daughter Madison – weeks after he was seen looking close to a mystery brunette in New York.
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But The Sun has revealed her reported £40 million fortune remains protected by a pre-nuptial agreement signed ahead of their 2007 marriage.
Her three daughters joined her as she flew back to the UK for the family funeral after dad Martin passed away earlier this month – following a lengthy battle with cancer.
But the tragedy proved to be the catalyst for a reunion between Mel and her sister Danielle, after years of arguments and disagreements between them – understood to have been sparked by Mel’s family’s dislike of Stephen.
It also helped her to rebuild a relationship with her mum, Andrea, with the singer later vowing to ensure the reunion remains long-term.
A source said earlier this week: “Mel is finally back in touch with her family and everyone is thrilled.
“It was a very sad time for everyone to go so long without speaking but now they are working hard to keep relationships positive and healthy.
Since confirming their separation, Mel and Stephen are understood to have undergone family therapy sessions with a Hollywood counsellor and their children in a bid to remain on civilised terms.
The family are understood to have met with psychiatrist Dr Charles Sophy in Beverly Hills on Wednesday.
A source labelled the session “a breakthrough”.