In today’s report of ‘as the Spice Girl’s world turns,’ singer, Mel B.’s ex-husband, Stephen Belafonte, strikes again. Ever since they divorced last year, following a reportedly abusive 10 year marriage, Stephen has been battling for rights to the the “X Factor” judge’s daughter she shares with comedian/actor, Eddie Murphy. Mel has three children: Angel; daughter, Madison (6) with Stephen; and daughter Phoenix (19) from her first marriage.
Stephen was granted joint custody of his and Mel’s biological daughter, Madison, but Mel B. doesn’t want Stephen around Angel Iris Murphy-Brown (10). However, Stephen says he has every right to have step-parent rights to Angel, because he raised her since she was an infant. They’re currently fighting it out in court over Angel, but in the meantime, Stephen has gone on a mini-media blitz to tell his side of the story.
The other day, Stephen Belafonte decided to prove just how much he loves Eddie’s daughter Angel Iris, by getting inked up in her honor. In the video below, he showed paparazzi a new tattoo on his wrist, which donned a big letter “A.” Stephen was also subtly shaded Eddie, even though he said he was not doing so. He adamantly declared “That’s MY daughter,” referring to Angel and Eddie’s absence from her life for several years reportedly. Stephen also shoot down claims that he has an ulterior financial motive behind wanting to stay in Angels life:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uy0Yn_XQHNw
Stephen Belafonte- “I don’t wanna be disrespectful to anyone, but I’m fighting to see my daughter [Angel], I don’t get money to see my daughter. There is no upside. I spend money to see my daughter -my “stepdaughter”- I guess. …It’s a touchy subject.”
When asked if Eddie sees Angel much, Stephen stated:
“Listen, I don’t know that relationship that much, I wasn’t privy to it. I was in a relationship [with Mel B.] for ten years and that’s MY daughter. I have nothing against Eddie or whatever, I just wanna be able to have that relationship [with Angel] that I’ve had ten years.”
A few days later, Stephen further vented again to paparazzi cameras, about Mel B. keeping Angel away from him. He also showed off his “A” (for Angel) tattoo again, explaining that he left two sides of it broken, because his heart is “broken” over Angel’s absence from his life.
“It’s kinda sentimental…but, as soon as I get back with my daughter [Angel], I’m gonna fill it [the spaces in between his “A” tattoo] in. It’s like a broken heart bro,” Stephen explained.
See him show his tat’ off in the video below:
https://youtu.be/NdlLlYAcu34
Mel B.’s Ex On Why He Never Adopted Eddie’s Daughter
He also explained why he never adopted Eddie’s daughter, Angel Iris in the video below:
Mel B: Ex Tried To Destroy Daughter’s Relationship w/Murphy
As we previously reported, Mel B. and Stephen appeared in court recently, over Eddie’s daughter, and Stephen told the judge he should be granted step-parent rights because Angel “has called me dad since she started to talk.” He continued, “I strongly believe that Brown’s abrupt decision to cut off all ties between Angel and I has been emotionally traumatizing and detrimental to Angel’s mental health and well being.”
He also threw more shots at Eddie Murphy’s parenting, by telling the judge that Eddie is “not interested” in having any contact with his daughter, Angel. Stephen’s attorney, Grace Jamra, told the judge “Mr Murphy has had no contact with the child.” She added that she’s tried to serve Eddie Murphy with legal papers, to appear in court, but “Mr. Murphy is avoiding service.”
Mel B. immediately shot down Stephen’s claims. She said Angel has a beautiful, “flourishing relationship” with her comedic pops and that it was Stephen who tried to ‘sabotage’ Angel’s relationship with her father, during their marriage.
Eddie & Daughter Shut Down The Noise
The whole time the battle over his child has been goin’ down between Mel B. and Stephen, Eddie Murphy has refrained from speaking on the matter publicly. However, after Stephen’s claims that Eddie wants nothing to do with his precious daughter, Eddie decided to let his actions do all of the talking for him a few days ago, by allowing Mel B.’s hairstylist, Gary Madatyan, to post a rare new pic of he and Angel together.