The divorce between Mel B and Stephen Belafonte is getting uglier by the minute. 
In the past few days, the pop star has come forward with some horrifying claims about their relationship, including allegations of abuse. Now, the former Spice Girl is claiming that the domestic violence was an open secret among their friends for years, but it was she who begged them not to report it.

According to TMZ, Mel filed a restraining order on Monday, claiming that throughout their marriage Belafonte abused her physically and emotionally. She also has claimed that while the abuse she was subjected to was known by family and friends, she begged them not to call police, telling them that she feared for her life.
Mel admitted that she rushed into her marriage with Belafonte, saying, "At the time, I was vulnerable. I was giving birth as a single mother, my self-esteem was very low, and my hormones were out of balance due to the pregnancy." She added that once they actually tied the knot, he began to tear her down telling her that she was "worthless, that he made me 'who I am,' that no one knows how really stupid I am."

The abuse lead to Mel attempting suicide in 2014, and in that same year Mel was forced to miss days of filming X Factor U.K. because of injuries she had sustained from abuse. She admitted that she told her employers at X Factor, and while they offered help to get her away from her abusive husband, there are no records of authorities being contacted.

The lack of contact with authorities appears to be because Mel truly feared for her life. Multiple sources close Mel told TMZ that when friends and family confronted Mel about her many injuries she broke down and begged them not to pry further because she feared that Belafonte may kill her. She also reportedly believed that anyone who exposed Belafonte would be in danger as well.

Now that the terrible truth has been revealed, Mel is acting as quickly as possible. She has reportedly already put the couple's former Hollywood Hills mansion up for sale, and on the same day that the judge in their divorce case ordered Belafonte to leave, the asking price dropped by a million dollars. It is clear that Mel is committed to putting all of the abuse in the past.

See Mel discuss her husband in an interview from last year with The Wendy Williams Show, above.