Control can manifest in numerous ways, but one of the most overlooked forms it takes is financial abuse. This subtle aspect of coercive control can leave victims feeling trapped, with no means of escape. The recent revelations by Melanie Brown, famously known as Mel B from the Spice Girls, highlight just how devastating financial abuse can be, even for those who seemed to have it all.
The Independent reports that Mel B’s journey from international fame and financial independence to being left with a mere £700 in her bank account is a stark reminder that financial abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of their status or wealth. In a candid interview, Mel B detailed the transition from performing at sold-out venues to shopping at discount supermarkets like Aldi.
Mel B Speaks Up About Violence and Coercive Control
Mel B’s decade-long marriage to Stephen Belafonte began with what she initially perceived as acts of love and care, but she eventually recognized these gestures as early signs of coercive control—a concept she was unfamiliar with at the time. Belafonte’s manipulation started with seemingly small actions, like buying her clothes he preferred, subtly dictating her wardrobe choices under the guise of affection. This control extended to limiting her communication with her family, gradually isolating her from her support network.
Mel B shared how these manipulative tactics are shockingly common among abusers, effectively stripping away victims’ autonomy and making them increasingly dependent on their abusers. Her 2018 memoir, ‘Brutally Honest,’ reveals the dreadful reality of her daily life, detailing allegations of physical, sexual, verbal, and financial abuse.
As Mel B navigated through the complexities of her abusive relationship, she faced significant challenges in attempting to leave Belafonte. “I tried to leave seven times, so you can imagine how desperate I was in those 10 years. I didn’t have anywhere to go, I didn’t have my own credit card, I didn’t have a car, I’ve got three kids, I was on the very edge of self-destruction” Mel shared in a 2021 interview.
Her struggle underscores the profound impact of coercive control on a person’s ability to leave an abusive situation. It took immense courage and desperation for Mel B to finally break free from the cycle of abuse, highlighting the difficult journey many victims face in regaining their sense of self and independence.
Financial Abuse Leaves Women Feeling Trapped
Financial abuse is one of many strategies employed by abusers to dominate their victims. It often leaves victims financially dependent on their abusers, which significantly limits their ability to leave the abusive situation. These are some of the many forms that financial abuse can take:
· Restricting Access to Bank Accounts
· Controlling All Household Finances
· Withholding Money for Basic Necessities
· Stealing Money or Assets
· Forcing the Partner to Hand Over Their Paychecks
· Sabotaging Work Opportunities
· Running Up Large Amounts of Debt on Joint Accounts
· Taking Out Loans in the Partner’s Name
· Refusing to Work or Contribute Financially
· Hiding Assets
· Forcing the Partner to Commit Financial Fraud
· Limiting Access to Financial Information
· Giving an Allowance
· Exploiting the Partner’s Resources
· Refusing Financial Support for Children
As a campaigner for domestic abuse groups and a recipient of an MBE for services to charitable causes and vulnerable women, Mel B has dedicated her platform to raising awareness about domestic abuse. Her message is clear: coercive control and financial abuse, which is often hidden behind closed doors, must be brought into the light to prevent others from suffering in silence.
Featured image: Mel B and Stephen Belafonte at The Emeralds & Ivy Ball in Sydney, 2012 (Mel B / CC by SA 2.0)
