Spice Girl Mel B Sued for Defamation in Divorce Case

The contentious divorce case involving Mel B, a member of the popular 1990s pop group the Spice Girls, just took a surprising turn as a third party filed a defamation lawsuit against the singer. The plaintiff in the defamation case, Lorraine Giles, is claiming that Mel B defamed her in the divorce filing by claiming that Giles had an affair with Stephen Belafonte – Mel B’s estranged spouse – and also tried to extort money from her.

Mel B and Belafonte were married in 2007 and have one child together. (Mel B has two other children from previous relationships.) The couple recently split, with Mel B filing divorce paperwork in a California family court. The divorce filing included a number of startling allegations, such as the allegation that Belafonte cheated on her with Giles. Mel B also alleged that Giles became pregnant with Belafonte’s child and then had an abortion. Perhaps the most salacious allegation in Mel B’s divorce filing was that Belafonte and Giles threatened to release embarrassing sex tapes of the Spice Girls singer unless she gave them money.

Giles responded by suing Mel B for defamation, libel, invasion of privacy, and infliction of personal distress. Giles claims that Mel B’s allegations in the divorce filing are particularly harmful and damaging to her reputation because they make Giles appear to be a “homewrecker, prostitute, and extortionist.”

Although most states, including New Jersey, prohibit a person from suing for defamation when the alleged defamatory comments were made in court documents, some states have loopholes that can be utilized by a person who is not a party in the underlying legal matter. Since Mel B filed for divorce in a “loophole” state, Giles has the ability to sue for defamation in this case.

The Mel B divorce case is a good example of why anyone who is thinking about filing for divorce in New Jersey or anywhere else needs to speak with a knowledgeable family law attorney before making any final decisions and moving forward with their divorce matter.

If you are thinking about filing for divorce in Camden County or anywhere else in South Jersey, you should speak with a qualified family law and divorce attorney immediately. The experienced divorce lawyers at Davis & Mendelson are prepared to help you throughout the divorce process. Contact us anytime to schedule a consultation.