Mel B: I wasn’t held hostage

Mel B has denied that her husband Stephen Belafonte assaulted her last year.

Speculation has surrounded the Spice Girl since the final of the UK X-Factor in December when she appeared on stage with what seemed like bruises on her body and without her wedding ring. The 39-year-old had also been rushed to hospital with a mystery illness in the days leading up to the final. But despite taking to Twitter at the time to say her husband of seven years had done nothing wrong, the rumours continued to hang over the couple and so Mel decided to clear things up once and for all.

"No, my husband didn't hit me," she said while running errands in Los Angeles, according to Mirror Online. The talent show judge was also pressed about reports that she had been held against her will by the 39-year-old. "No, I didn't get held hostage. Me and my husband are madly in love."

It had been reported at the time that Mel had been held at her £4 million London home. The couple did their best to quash the rumours by issuing a statement and by using social media to deny all the claims.

"Pls don't believe what you read it's all lies lies lies as usual (sic)" the mother-of-three wrote.

However a source told the outlet that the couple believe someone is out to cause trouble between them.

"Stephen and Mel feel like someone out there has a vendetta against them," they said. "They're both really confused about the rumours that have been flying around, and who started them. They had a small rocky patch before Christmas but are completely sorted and happy again now."

Mel B – or Scary Spice as she was known in her girl band days – married Stephen in June 2007 in Las Vegas. The couple have daughter Madison together while Mel also has two daughters from previous relationships while Stephen also has a little girl.