'It's absolute nonsense': Mel B's manager says her brother-in-law Jeremiah should 'not be believed' over comments claiming Stephen Belafonte is the 'toxic' reason she's been sacked from The X Factor
Mel B's manager says comments made about her husband Stephen Belafonte 'should not be believed'.
Jonathan Shalit OBE, exclusively told MailOnline that though 'Stephen has no comment to make' on The Sun on Sunday's interview with his brother Jeremiah Stansbury, 41, the statements are false.
'Virtually all that was written is absolute nonsense,' Shalit told MailOnline.
Scroll down for video
Defence: Mel B's manager says comments made about her husband Stephen Belafonte by his brother Jeremiah 'should not be believed'
'Jeremiah has no knowledge of what did or did not happen – so should not believed.
He added: From personal experience I can tell you Stephen is a decent upstanding guy, who is a great husband, father and step father, And in fact great to work with.'
Jeremiah told The Sun on Sunday that Mel's contract was not renewed because of her husband's 'toxic' influence.
'He's a control freak, it's a toxic relationship and it is a problem,' Stephen's brother claims.
Return? Reports suggest Mel B and Louis Walsh won't be on the judging panel of this year's X Factor competition but Simon Cowell and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini will
'Steve tries to manipulate and control the people around him. Melanie is a decent and generous person. Why else would she put up with someone like this?'
It was reported this week that Mel B wasn't returning to The X Factor judging panel after just one series on the long-running ITV1 show.
Louis Walsh's future has also been left uncertain, while Simon Cowell and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini are expected be back later this year.
Mel's last appearance on The X Factor was marred by controversy after she missed an important final press conference ahead of the live finals in December, and received hospital treatment for a mystery illness.
She missed Saturday night's episode, leaving her only act Andrea Faustini without his mentor but with Tulisa Contostavlos stepping in to support in her absence.
Controversial: Mel was absent for the first live final of The X Factor last year, but returned without her wedding ring the following night on Sunday December 14th
Mel then appeared during the final episode on Sunday December 14th, with bruises and cuts visible on her arms and face - and without her wedding ring.
The couple have since reconciled and seen rarely without each other's company after moving back to Los Angeles.
She continues to be a judge on America's Got Talent, and Stephen has launched a new imaging app, with his wife's support.
Brown and Belafonte married in 2007 in Las Vegas after a whirlwind romance and following her heartbreaking split from Eddie Murphy, who refused to believe Angel - now eight - was his daughter until a paternity test proved he was.
Together, Mel and Stephen have a three-year-old daughter Madison, while the former singer also has a 16-year-old daughter, Phoenix, from her first marriage to dancer Jimmy Gulzar.
Stephen has a 10-year-old daughter, Giselle, by his ex Nicole Contreras.
Reconciled: The married couple of eight years seem to be happier than ever with their daughter Madison (cnetre) and her children Phoenix (right) and Angel (left) from two other relationships
- Terrifying moment Great White shark attacks boat in NZ
- Moment drunken model was 'slammed to the ground' by cops
- Terrifying moment avalanche hits Everest base camp
- CCTV in Kathmandu catches the moment earthquake struck
- News reporter robbed at Baltimore protest LIVE on camera
- Bruce Jenner reveals he 'is a woman' in emotional interview
- Eerie scenes as Kathmandu sky fills with birds after...
- Three women jailed following Russian WWII memorial 'twerk'
- Surveillance footage shows scale of violent Nepalese...
- Inside the avalanche: Climber films as they struggle to...
- 7.9 magnitude earthquake in Nepal that caused Everest...
- Cecily Strong lays into the Washington Hilton and Secret...
- 'We're in a race against time to get off': Desperate rescue...
- Dozens of Americans still missing in Nepal as devastation...
- Miracle of the Mengele babies: Truly astounding story of how...
- Over 75? Sign here if you're ready for death: GPs to ask ALL...
- Oil exec and his son shot dead 'execution-style' by heavily-...
- EXCLUSIVE: 'They have never been apart': Relatives share...
- Drunken model left scarred for life after cops 'grabbed her...
- 'I don't think this is such a brilliant idea': Watch the...
- Freddie Gray protesters in Baltimore steal reporter's...
- Jets, cars, money, booze… and LOTS of scantily-clad girls:...
- Startling images from Nepal earthquake epicenter reveal...
- Will Kate be induced? Duchess 'up to four days overdue' as...