Bruises on The X Factor, spats, and sex toys: Mel B and Stephen Belafonte finally call it a day

Former Spice Girl Mel B is divorcing her film producer husband of ten years.

According to papers filed with the Los Angeles  Superior Court the date of separation is listed as December 28th of last year. The 41-year-old and Stephen Belafonte have a five-year-old daughter Madison, who Mel B is seeking joint custody of. She's also asked the court to deny spousal support. The couple, who were just months away from celebrating their ten year wedding anniversary, tied the knot in Las Vegas in June 2007 after a five-month romance. Mel B posted an emotional, albeit cheeky, message of love on Instagram just last month.

My baby boo @stephenthinks11 we have been through everything that would normally tear couples apart and we have come out on the other side stronger,you loved me before I even new how to really love myself,you are my world honey and let's not forget you are abit of a dickhead too xxxx #tenyearsmarried #fightfortheineyoulove #theysaiditwouldntlast #bitcheswishtheyhadthis #nowtalkaboutme

A post shared by Mel B (@officialmelb) on Feb 6, 2017 at 3:55pm PST

The ten-year marriage has been tumultuous, to say the least. Cracks began to emerge immediately after they got hitched, with rumours that her family were unsupportive of the union. It came to a head in 2014 when Mel B was presenting the X Factor UK, Belafonte was accused of physically abusing the pop star after she appeared on TV with bruises on her arm, despite the outpouring of concern for Mel B's well-being the pair remained defiant and stayed together. At one point, Belafonte's brother waded into the row, selling a story to the Sun newspaper  alleding that the pair were obsessed with porn and displayed their sex toys with pride. It's been a rocky few weeks for Mel as she comes to terms with her father's death. He passed away just last month after a five-year battle with cancer.