Mel B 'worries friends with antisocial behaviour'

Mel B is reportedly becoming "a shadow of the woman she once was".

The former Spice Girl celebrated her 40th birthday on Friday. While it should have been a happy time for the star, an insider close to the singer has claimed that her strained marriage to Stephen Belafonte overshadowed proceedings.

"Mel has been feeling a bit isolated in her relationship," the source told British magazine Closer. "Pals fear she lets Stephen call all the shots and say she barely socialises without him. She has a handful of close friends in LA but she does very little that doesn't involve Stephen. They feel she's slowly becoming a shadow of the woman she once was."

Mel forged a name for herself as Scary Spice alongside bandmates Geri Halliwell, Mel C, Victoria Beckham and Emma Bunton in the 90s. Her loud, outspoken nature saw her move into the world of TV judging after the group went their separate ways, with seats on the panels of America's Got Talent and last year's series of UK The X Factor.

The star missed the first part of the singing contest's final in December after being rushed to hospital with a mystery illness. She returned the next night but left fans concerned by bruises on her body. Mel and Stephen were forced to deny on a number of occasions that there had been a physical altercation between them both and the source adds that while they do have a fiery relationship, the star would never walk out on her near eight-year-marriage.

"Aside from a few tearful breakdowns when they row, Mel insists that she loves Stephen and is even considering having another baby with him," the insider added.

The couple already have four children between them, three from previous relationships as well as daughter Madison together.