Judge blasts Mel B and Stephen for ‘living beyond their means’ #CAPontheRun

Mel B and Stephen Belafonte have been criticized for “living beyond their means” by a judge after giving his verdict on their spousal support battle.

The Spice Girls star, full name Melanie Brown, was ordered to pay $40,000 (R518 000) a month in emergency spousal support to her estranged husband Stephen by a judge last Friday.

The order, which was filed at Los Angeles Superior Court, has now been obtained according to report obtained by Cap on the run and shows the judge criticizing the former couple for living a “high upper class life” in the top one per cent even though their finances didn’t allow for it, noting that the amount for which they have claimed under monthly expenses exceeds their income.

“Given that the parties have lived beyond their means, that the parties’ claimed expenses are not entirely credible or reasonable, the amounts of income and expenses are unclear on this record…” the judge wrote before deciding to give Stephen $40,000.

“That should be enough to meet his reasonable needs and not vary far from his premarital standard of living, at least until the financial picture clarifies,” he concludes.

In the order, the judge also lists some of Mel’s expense claims and questions their legitimacy

“Brown’s claims $200,000/month in ‘child care’ with no further explanation,” the order continues. 

“And likewise over $5,000/month (R65 000) in groceries and household supplies for a family of four (excluding Belafonte) on top of $4,493 (R58 000) a month for ‘eating out’ and $1,313/month (R17 000) for ‘movies, shows, theme parks, etc.’. The Court does not find these expenses credible or reasonable, at least based on the evidence now before the Court.”

The order lists Stephen’s expenses for phone and email bills, groceries, household supplies, entertainment, gifts, vacation in a similar way and comes to the same conclusion that his expenses are not reasonable or credible.

After the news broke, Mel’s mum Andrea Brown tweeted that she was “disgusted” with the verdict.

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