Mel B's family 'despised' Stephen Belafonte and he forced her to 'cut them' from her life

Mel B’s former flame has opened up about the star’s shocking split from her husband of 10 years, Stephen Belafonte.

Mel has been granted a restraining order from Stephen amid claims that he had physically abused and sexually exploited her throughout their relationship.

Now Christa Parker, who had a lesbian fling with Mel before she met Stephen in 2007, has spoken out on the messy break-up, claiming that Stephen forced the former Spice Girl cut her family from her life.

Christa also claims that the tragic death of Mel’s father in March is what prompted her to leave Stephen, with the singer rekindling her relationship with her estranged sister, Danielle, and mother as a result.

It is believed that Mel hadn’t spoken to them in several years due to her relationship with Stephen.

Speaking to The Mirror, Christa explained: “I think that her dad getting sick, the reality of that, and him passing – that hit her full force.

“She was always close to her mum ands sister and dad – she talked to her mum every day, she talked to her sister every day.

“Her mum would come to LA and we’d all go out and do things… But when her and Stephen got together that just didn’t happen anymore.

“She got rid of her old friends, people that were close to her, because he had to be in control of everything. Her family despised him.

“Stephen would call Melanie’s mum and sister and just cuss them out and abuse them He didn’t like Melanie around them, so that’s why she cut them off.”

The comments come after Mel’s sister branded Stephen a “psychopath”, writing on Instagram: “Dear all media I won’t be selling a story on my sister, never have and never will!! Here is my comment below so you can now leave me and my mum alone and let us be united and grieve the loss of my dad.

“@stephenthinks11 8 years of abusive calls me and my mum have had, stating we would never see Melanie again. I am laughing and celebrating as you were wrong.

“You are a sorry excuse of a man!! I hope you go to jail and rot in hell!! #wifebeater #physcopath #animalkiller #abuser

“#eventslocker #moneylaundering #fraud #criminal #adultery #kidnap #attemptedmuder #firearm #controling #violent #evil #devilman #gotmysistersback #united #mydadisdancinginhisgrave #dontmesswiththebrowns [sic]”.

Stephen was recently granted supervised contact with his and Mel’s five-year-old daughter, Madison, as Mel got her restraining order extended.

Read more:

[ Mel B ends decade-long feud with her sister ]

[ Mel B granted a restraining order from estranged husband Stephen Belafonte ]

[ Mel B’s estranged husband granted visitation rights to his daughter ]