Mel B admitted that her former Spice Girl bandmates were aware that she was in an abusive marriage.
The Wannabe hitmaker, 47, has spent the past few years raising awareness about domestic abuse and violence, working with charity Women’s Aid and starring in the harrowing yet powerful music video, Love Should Not Hurt, directed by composer Fabio D’Andrea.
The musician’s campaigning began after she ended her 10-year marriage with producer Stephen Belafonte in 2017.
Mel explained that she became very good ‘at hiding things’ during her time in the chart-topping group.
When asked if her fellow Spice Girls – which consisted of Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell and Melanie C – knew about the abuse, she said: ‘Yeah, I think some of them did in dribs and drabs.’
‘But I was you know, I was in it for 10 years,’ she added during Wednesday’s Newsnight.
‘I was very good at hiding things, especially anything to do with my then-husband, and what I was going home to or what I’d just come from.’
This comes after the Spice Up Your Life star pleaded with Sir Keir Starmer to make tackling domestic violence one of his ‘national missions’ if he becomes prime minister.
Sir Keir said a ‘powerful strand’ within his pledge to ‘make Britain’s streets safe’ is tackling violence against women and girls.
He unveiled five missions last week to improve the nation, including securing high sustained growth and building an NHS fit for the future.
‘If you’re going to talk about your five main things you have to add another one on that is specifically domestic abuse,’ she said.
As the audience laughed at her sustained questioning, she said: ‘You may well laugh but I’m being bloody serious.
‘It needs to be a standalone thing that we get educated on from the ground up, inside out.’
Newsnight returns tonight at 10.30pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
Domestic abuse helpline
If you are in immediate danger call 999. If you cannot talk, dial 55 and the operator will respond.
For emotional support, you can contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247. Alternatively, for practical and emotional support, please contact Women’s Aid Live Chat 10am – 6pm seven days a week.
You can also reach the National Centre for Domestic Violence on 0800 270 9070 or text NCDV to 60777.
For free and confidential advice and support for women in London affected by abuse, you can call Solace on 0808 802 5565 or email advice@solacewomensaid.org.
Male victims of domestic abuse can call 01823 334244 to speak to ManKind, an initiative available for male victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence across the UK as well as their friends, family, neighbours, work colleagues and employers.
Alternatively, the Men’s Advice Line can be reached at 0808 8010327, or emailed at info@mensadviceline.org.uk.
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