Mel B warns of red flag from potential abusers: ‘They find you’

Sign up to Roisin O’Connor’s free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Get our Now Hear This email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Appearing on the second episode of singer Paloma Faith’s podcast, Mad, Sad & Bad, Brown spoke about the alleged “coercive control and manipulation” that resulted in her feeling “like I was going mad”. “A lot of that went on and I literally felt like I was going mad and I would double check myself … almost like you were living in a fantasy world where I know that that wasn't there before and I know where my coffee mug is.” open image in gallery Former Spice Girl and patron of Women’s Aid, Melanie Brown The Brit Award-winning singer said she had to learn how to trust her own instincts after leaving the relationship: “Because there's so much self-doubt because for 10 years you've been made to feel whatever you thought was completely the opposite.” While Brown did not name her ex-partner in the interview, she has previously accused her ex-husband, Stephen Belafonte – with whom she shares a young daughter – of domestic abuse. “They love-bomb you, they show up like they're your knight in shining armour and then slowly over time they show their true colours.” Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 4 month free trial Sign up Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 4 month free trial Sign up Brown said one of the red flags, which could often be difficult to see at the time, was a feeling of “not safe”. I had to build myself back up and I was like, ‘That's so sad that happened to me’.” open image in gallery Mel B appeared on Paloma Faith’s new podcast, ‘Mad, Sad, and Bad’ Brown is currently engaged to Rory McPhee, whom she has known since she was young and who also knew her late father.