Mel B verbally and emotionally abused her three children in a series of sickening incidents witnessed by her former close friend and personal assistant, DailyMailTV can reveal.
Gary Madatyan, who claimed in a lawsuit filed last week that Mel also abused him and stiffed him out of $200,000, has described in shocking detail the hellish household the Spice Girl and former America’s Got Talent judge runs.
In an exclusive interview, Gary claims Mel regularly squared up to her 20-year-old daughter Phoenix Chi during blazing arguments, screamed and cussed at Angel because she wouldn’t go to bed and traumatized her youngest girl Madison, eight, with vile and inappropriate sexual language while she was drunk on tequila.
Gary, who was in Mel’s life for two years following her split with ex husband Stephen Belafonte, says Mel’s disturbing behavior is down to chronic alcoholism and an addiction to potent prescription drugs.
And lifting the lid on the root of her problems the 40-year-old accuses Mel’s personal physician Dr Charles Sophy of enabling the star’s behavior.
Mel B emotionally and verbally abused her three daughters, her former close friend and personal assistant Gary Madatyan told DailyMailTV. He claims Mel regularly squared up with her 20-year-old daughter Phoenix Chi (second from right) during arguments, screamed and cussed at Angel (far right) because she wouldn’t go to bed and traumatized Madison, eight, (left) with vile and inappropriate sexual language while she was drunk on tequila
‘Every time I think about the abuse against the children, my whole body starts to shake,’ Madatyan (pictured) explained to DailyMailTV, visibly upset by the shocking memories
Lifting the lid on the root of her problems, Gary, 40, accuses Mel’s personal physician Dr Charles Sophy (left) of enabling the star’s behavior. He says the Beverly Hills psychiatrist is responsible for much of her condition and became so close to Mel that he enjoyed lavish dinners with the star
He says the Beverly Hills psychiatrist is responsible for much of her condition and became so close to Mel that he enjoyed lavish dinners with the star and even flew with her on a private jet on an all expenses paid trip to Las Vegas.
Celebrity hair and wardrobe stylist Gary says he fears for the safety of Mel’s children and says the singer desperately needs professional help.
She was extremely abusive to everyone around her and her children had it worst. ‘In the end I couldn’t stand it, I was traumatized and had to get out.
And in more shocking claims he reveals Mel – real name Melanie Brown – is ‘delusional’ and claims much of her autobiography ‘Brutally Honest’ is fabricated.
She was extremely abusive to everyone around her and her children had it worst.+
Speaking exclusively to DailyMailTV from his Beverly Hills home, Gary said: ‘When I left, Melanie was is in a bad way, she was out of control, she needs help, she became delusional and was hallucinating. I did my best but it wasn’t enough.
‘There was times when I walked into her room thinking Melanie was gonna be dead, I would walk in and she’d be sleeping and I would think, she’s gone, she’s not going to wake up. I honestly didn’t know what to do.
‘I truly, dearly love her and her family and we did have a great time together.
‘But she was extremely abusive to everyone around her and her children had it worst.
‘In the end I couldn’t stand it, I was traumatized and had to get out.’
Gary met Mel, 44, in his capacity as a stylist in early 2017, quickly becoming the star’s close friend and trusted employee.
The Spice Girl – aka Scary Spice – took him on full time to style her for America’s Got Talent and other public appearances, but he quickly found himself running every aspect of her life.
Gary finally parted ways with Mel in March this year as the star prepared to embark on her Spice Girls reunion tour in May. He says he has been left traumatized by his experience and has ‘flashbacks’ almost every day
Gary, who is from Armenia, says he always likes to help. But ultimately Mel and her children became so reliant on him that he felt it was impossible to leave. It was especially difficult because of the alleged abuse and said he felt that he had to stay to protect the kids
At first Gary loved his job and enjoyed helping Mel get her life back on track and caring for her children.
But he says she ‘preyed’ on his ’empathy’ and expanded his role so he was at her beck and call for everything.
His multiple roles included personal assistant, butler, hair and wardrobe stylist, manager, life coach, therapist, driver, nanny, personal chef and security guard.
Mel even insisted that Gary move into her luxury Palazzo apartment complex at The Grove in LA, so he could be by her side 24-hours a day.
The stylist was photographed alongside Mel on an almost daily basis as she arrived at court appearances, celebrity engagements and public events and he was a regular backstage on America’s Got Talent while Mel was a judge.
Gary was so ‘integral’ to Mel’s life that in her recent autobiography ‘Brutally Honest,’ the first person she thanked in the introduction was him.
The book reads: ‘To Gary Madatyan, there aren’t enough thanks I can say for sticking by me through thick and thin, making me laugh and sitting with me as I cried. You are forever and ever friend.’
He also shared several friendship cards he received from Mel detailing how much she loves her ‘soul mate’ and how he’s helped change her life.
Gary said: ‘We were very close and I felt like she needed my help. She asked me to come hang out or come to the pool with her and her kids but then at night she would be alone and crying and she turned to me more and more.’
Gary did his best to promote a normal family life for the sake of the children and in a bid to heal Mel. He cooked meals for everyone to eat together at the dinner table, organized birthday parties and family outings. ‘I tried to use any situation to bring all the family together,’ he said
Gary was so ‘integral’ to Mel’s life that in her recent autobiography, the first person she thanked in the introduction was him. The book reads: ‘To Gary Madatyan, there aren’t enough thanks I can say for sticking by me through thick and thin, making me laugh and sitting with me as I cried. You are forever and ever friend.’ He also shared several friendship cards he received from Mel detailing how much she loves her ‘soul mate’ and how he’s helped change her life (left and right)
Gary said: ‘Mel manipulated me, she put me in a situation where I had to do more and more things for her… I ran her schedule and I went everywhere with her, I was at court, we traveled together, she was really attached to me, she wanted me there 24/7.’ He added: ‘I literally had no life, I couldn’t see my friends, I couldn’t see my mother, I couldn’t see anyone’
He added: ‘But Mel manipulated me, she put me in a situation where I had to do more and more things for her, if she asked me to take Madison to school I would, if she asked me to go to the grocery store I would.
‘I ran her schedule and I went everywhere with her, I was at court, we traveled together, she was really attached to me, she wanted me there 24/7.’
He added: ‘I literally had no life, I couldn’t see my friends, I couldn’t see my mother, I couldn’t see anyone.’
Gary, who is from Armenia, says that in his ‘heart’ and his ‘culture’ he always likes to help.
But ultimately Mel and her children became so reliant on him that he felt it was impossible to leave.
It was especially difficult because of the abuse he claims he witnessed and felt that he had to stay to protect the kids.
‘Every time I think about the abuse against the children, my whole body starts to shake,’ Gary explains, visibly upset by the memories.
‘She was like Jekyll and Hyde – sober she was the sweetest and nicest person. When she’s drinking non-stop and then taking prescription drugs, she becomes Melanie, this completely different person.
‘There was a time she could attack Angel, she would attack Madison, she would get into fights with Phoenix several times.
‘She would get into this mood where you don’t recognize her and when she comes back she’s a completely different person.
‘She was like Jekyll and Hyde – sober she was the sweetest and nicest person.
‘When she’s drinking non-stop and then taking prescription drugs, she becomes Melanie, this completely different person.’
Gary recalls witnessing Mel squaring off with her oldest daughter Phoenix (pictured together last month) and calling her a ‘c**t’ and ‘b***h’ in vile outbursts
‘She was like Jekyll and Hyde – sober she was the sweetest and nicest person. When she’s drinking non-stop and then taking prescription drugs, she becomes Melanie, this completely different person,’ Gary said
Gary recalls witnessing Mel squaring up her oldest daughter Phoenix while screaming ‘c**t’ and ‘b***h’ in vile outbursts.
‘There was violent pushing sometimes it would get really physical,’ he said.
‘I remember her grabbing her by her hoody and dragging her downstairs.
‘Phoenix stayed at my house many times after being kicked out by Melanie.
‘I feel really bad for her. There was a time she told me, “I don’t know why they brought me into this world, my father doesn’t care about me and my mother doesn’t care about me, nobody wants to support me”.’
It didn’t stop at Phoenix.
Gary recalls a horrifying occasion when Mel lost it with daughter Angel, then 11, because she wouldn’t go to bed.
In another disturbing incident Mel’s other daughter, eight-year-old Madison, woke up in the early hours of the morning while Mel was still up drinking tequila with Gary.
The little girl was carrying two Barbie dolls and asked her mother, ‘will you play with me and my dolls?’.
Intoxicated Mel said ‘of course’ and picked up the dolls. Mimicking a Barbie voice she had one doll say to the other: ‘Hi I’m a lesbian…’ before letting out a loud cackle.
‘Angel was in her room on her computer and wouldn’t go to bed when her mother asked. ‘Melanie was really really drunk and she attacked her. She was yelling and screaming, I had to pull her away and take Angel out on to the balcony, it was horrible,’ he says.
In another disturbing incident Mel’s other daughter, eight-year-old Madison, woke up in the early hours of the morning while Mel was still up drinking tequila with Gary. The little girl was carrying two Barbie dolls and asked her mother, ‘will you play with me and my dolls?’. Intoxicated Mel said ‘of course’ and picked up the dolls. Mimicking a Barbie voice she had one doll say to the other: ‘Hi I’m a lesbian …’, before letting out a loud cackle
The hair and wardrobe stylist had to restrain Mel and Angel was left screaming hysterically.
She was so upset she could hardly breath, repeatedly saying of her mother: ‘I hate her, I hate her,’ recalls Gary.
‘Madison woke up and she was screaming at the top of her lungs. Phoenix knows better than to get involved though.’
In another disturbing incident Mel’s other daughter, eight-year-old Madison, woke up in the early hours of the morning while Mel was still up drinking tequila with Gary.
The little girl was carrying two Barbie dolls and asked her mother, ‘will you play with me and my dolls?’.
Intoxicated Mel said ‘of course’ and picked up the dolls. Mimicking a Barbie voice she had one doll say to the other: ‘Hi I’m a lesbian…’, before letting out a loud cackle.
Madison burst into tears and Gary had to console her and take her back to bed while Mel continued drinking.
The incidents were among many outbursts in which Mel lost it with her children hurling insults, upsetting and cussing at them.
But Gary says that while he feels ‘terrible’ that it happened under his nose, he felt powerless to stop it.
He claims he did tell Dr Sophy about some of the more serious incidents.
Gary claims Mel had an unusually close friendship with Dr Sophy.
Gary claims he told Dr Sophy about some of the more serious incidents with Mel and her children. Gary claims Mel had an unusually close friendship with Dr Sophy
Gary shared a group text with DailyMailTV between him, Mel and Dr Sophy. In the conversation the doctor writes: ‘Hi lets (sic) do something tonight!!’ Mel replies: ‘Ok,’ to which Dr Sophy responds: ‘Have a preference? Dinner? Drinks? Both? Sex? All?’ And Mel replies: ‘On my God. I’m cooking right now steak dinner with Rusty for Angel and Madison.’ Gary says it was a typical example of how casual Dr Sophy had become around Mel
Gary says he still carries guilt over some of the abuse he saw.
Gary shared a group text with DailyMailTV between him, Mel and Dr Sophy.
In the conversation the doctor writes: ‘Hi lets (sic) do something tonight!!’
Mel replies: ‘Ok,’ to which Dr Sophy responds: ‘Have a preference? Dinner? Drinks? Both? Sex? All?’
And Mel replies: ‘On my God. I’m cooking right now steak dinner with Rusty for Angel and Madison.’
Gary says it was a typical example of how casual Dr Sophy had become around Mel.
In November 2017 Gary recalls how the doctor even joined him and Mel on a trip to Las Vegas on a private jet. The private plane was paid for by the airline as part of a deal Gary had arranged for Mel.
But once in Sin City Mel covered the $25,000 bill for eight days staying at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel and later a VIP Sky Villa at the Aria Resort & Casino.
Dr Sophy replies, ‘Hi Call me plz.’
‘When we got back from Vegas Dr Sophy asked me to tell Melanie that she needs to pay for all his expenses and she reimbursed him the money right away. Hotel, food, everything – she paid for it.’
In November 2017 Gary recalls how the doctor even joined him and Mel on a trip to Las Vegas on a private jet. The private plane was paid for by the airline as part of a deal Gary had arranged for Mel
In court documents filed last week Gary alleges Dr Sophy took his and Mel’s relationship to the next level by illegally prescribing amphetamine salts to Mel using Gary’s name without consent. In a series of text messages included as exhibits in the LA Superior Court filing Gary claims he confronted Dr Sophy over the fake prescriptions
He claims Dr Sophy used his name without his consent to prescribe Mel the pills
Dr Sophy replies, ‘Hi Call me plz.’
In court documents filed last week Gary alleges Dr Sophy took his and Mel’s relationship to the next level by illegally prescribing amphetamine salts to Mel using Gary’s name without consent.
And Gary claims the medic, who also acted as a marriage therapist for the Spice Girl and former hubby Belafonte during their ten year marriage, tried to sway Mel’s custody battle with her ex in her favor.
In the court documents – filed by attorney Ben Meiselas of LA based law firm Geragos & Geragos – Gary claims Dr Sophy ‘yelled and berated’ him to ‘lie’ to the LA County Department of Children and Family Services – where the physician serves as the Medical Director – about Belafonte’s treatment of his and Mel’s children.
But Gary refused to lie, the suit states, but felt ‘grievously intimidated’ and by early 2019 had built the courage to confront Mel about this behavior and warn her about Dr Sophy and his influence over her.
He added: ‘I think Dr Sophy has destroyed Mel’s life, all these issues she’s going through in my opinion it has a lot to do with him controlling the situation. He is enabling her.’
And Gary claims the Dr Sophy, who also acted as a marriage therapist for the Spice Girl and former hubby Stephen Belafonte (pictured with Mel and her daughters in 2015) during their ten year marriage, tried to sway Mel’s custody battle with her ex in her favor
DailyMailTV has asked Dr Sophy and the LA County Department of Children and Family Services for comment, but as yet have not received a response.
Amid the stressful divorce and custody battle with her ex, Gary says Mel’s drinking and pill popping spiraled out of control.
The star patched over her personal problems by painting a ‘beautiful picture’ of her family life on Instagram and she somehow managed to pull it together when she was working.
But in reality, Gary says, she was a mess and in desperate need of help.
He says he tried to take Mel to see therapist and even arranged for her to have EMDR therapy for trauma and PTSD in Temecula, California – none of which had any impact.
He said: ‘It’s very hard for me to sit here and say all these things, I reached out to so many people to ask for help for her, to cry out to them because I couldn’t take it anymore, I was by myself nobody was there, I had to make sure the kids had food and got to school.’
Gary says at her lowest point the Too Much singer was drinking at least three bottles of wine a day and her favorite liquor was high end Don Julio 1942 tequila which she drank morning, noon and night.
Mixed with drugs he says the potent cocktail made Mel increasingly ‘crazy’.
‘It made her erratic, delusional and paranoid and she’s not nice to be around,’ he explains.
He said Mel became so paranoid through her haze that she believed her ex was spying on her with drones and had men posted on the roof of department store Nordstrom Rack watching her place through binoculars.
Gary says at her lowest point the Too Much singer was drinking at least three bottles of wine a day and her favorite liquor was high end Don Julio 1942 tequila which she drank morning, noon and night. Mixed with drugs he says the potent cocktail made Mel increasingly ‘crazy’. ‘It made her erratic, delusional and paranoid and she’s not nice to be around,’ he explains
Gary said: ‘I think Dr Sophy has destroyed Mel’s life, all these issues she’s going through in my opinion it has a lot to do with him controlling the situation. He is enabling her.’ And amid the stressful divorce and custody battle with her ex, Gary says Mel’s drinking and pill popping spiraled out of control. Pictured: Mel eyeing up a full beer on her trip to Vegas with Gary and Dr Sophy
Gary said: ‘She made me stay with her some nights because she said she was scared Stephen would send people to hurt her.
‘Once she called me at 3am and said she heard a noise and that someone was breaking in. I called security and 911 but there was nothing there.
There was a time I was downstairs with the kids in the living room when she was upstairs having sex and the bed was noisy.
‘Other times she had me taking photos of a Southwest airplane flying overhead because she was convinced it was one of Stephen’s drones.’
There was so many men and I was always concerned that she had these guys around the children. There was a time I was downstairs with the kids in the living room when she was upstairs having sex and the bed was noisy.
Gary recalls another worrying night when Mel called him in the early hours and told him she was sitting talking with her father – months after he had died.
Mel’s drinking got so bad that when she was in a hospital recovering from major surgery Gary says she ordered a bottle of tequila for delivery.
While Mel’s drinking was off the chart, so was her appetite for men.
Her former friend described how a revolving door of strangers would come to visit the singer while the children were at home.
‘There was so many men and I was always concerned that she had these guys around the children,’ he recalls.
‘There was a time I was downstairs with the kids in the living room when she was upstairs having sex and the bed was noisy.
‘Madison, this kid is so smart, she said, ”Gary what is that noise?”. I had to distract her by making an egg sandwich for her.
‘Mel had a huge appetite for sex, she’d open her legs and scream at me, ”I need someone to eat my p***y”.’
Gary did his best to promote a normal family life for the sake of the children and in a bid to heal Mel.
He cooked meals for everyone to eat together at the dinner table, organized birthday parties and family outings.
‘I tried to use any situation to bring all the family together,’ he said.
Her former friend described how a revolving door of strangers would come to visit the singer while the children were at home. ‘There was so many men and I was always concerned that she had these guys around the children,’ he recalls. ‘There was a time I was downstairs with the kids in the living room when she was upstairs having sex and the bed was noisy’
‘I made so much effort with parties and at Christmas. I remember buying Mel and all the kids expensive Christmas presents, but Mel didn’t bother to get me one thing, not that I care, but who does that, we were supposed to be close friends.’
But while Mel loves her family dearly, Gary says that because of her addiction problems, she has a strained relationship with her kids.
‘There was a time when I brought Phoenix to come live with me in Beverly Hills because Mel kicked her out,’ he recalls.
‘I’d give Phoenix some money to go out with her friends, Mel would never spoil her kids, she would never give Phoenix money, nothing.
‘One day I took Phoenix back home and Mel attacked me, ”why did you bring this b***h c**t here?”‘
Younger daughter Madison, who Mel shares with ex Belafonte, these days spends most of her time with her father, even though the couple share custody 50/50.
Belafonte told DailyMailTV that Mel, who is currently staying in the UK, can go weeks without bothering to call Madison and even forgot to call on the girl’s eighth birthday on September 1.
Gary says that Leeds-born Mel opened up to him about what she was going through during her divorce from Belafonte.
She told him of the alleged horrific verbal and physical abuse at the hands of her ex husband Belafonte.
At first Gary was shocked.
‘I didn’t know how a person could go through this situation, all this trauma, everything she was telling me,’ he explained.
‘I was listening to what happened but I had never witnessed it, so I believed her, I felt for her.’
Gary says Mel opened up to him about what she was going through during her divorce from Belafonte. She told him of the alleged horrific verbal and physical abuse at the hands of Belafonte. At first Gary was shocked. But he says that now he doesn’t believe a word Mel has said
But Gary says that now he doesn’t believe a word Mel has said.
‘All the court dates, all the conversations, everything I have witnessed, I don’t believe it’s true, whatever she was telling me, yes there could be parts that were true, but whatever she was telling me I have never seen any proof any of it happened.
‘She would start telling me stuff and she’s bringing all this stuff that’s not true, it’s like she’s hallucinating and she’s lying and the more she lies she believes her lies.’
‘There was a lot of people on the side who knew their relationship. They said it was a good marriage. Maybe she was hallucinating on her medication when she said all that stuff, I don’t know.
She’s nasty and abusive to everyone in her life and once she’s done with you you’re gone. She used and abused me for two years and I couldn’t take it anymore, I had to leave. But it breaks my heart because I had to leave those kids behind.
‘What I do know is that no one can control Melanie, she is a control freak, she controls everyone.’
For similar reasons Gary believes Mel fabricated much of her autobiography ‘Brutally Honest’ which roundly attacks Belafonte, but notably omits any mention of rape or physical attacks – shocking allegations she relied heavily on in court filings.
None of her allegations were ever tested or proven in court because she came to a settlement agreement with her ex at the 11th hour.
What’s worse Gary says he witnessed Mel trying to manipulate her own children to believe the worst about the man who helped raise them for ten years.
The split had been particularly confusing for Angel who had always believed Belafonte was her real father.
‘There was a day when Angel walked into the room and said, ”Mom, am I ever going to see Stephen, I miss him so much”,’ Gary recalls.
‘And Melanie said ”no, he has been a bad person to you”, she said he did this to you he did that, all these things, he used to be mean to you and beat up the dog and show you videos of ISIS and stuff.
‘And Angel said, ”that’s not true mother, he never did this to me”. Then Mel got really upset, but again she was thinking all this stuff and believing all this stuff, but it just wasn’t true.’
Gary says Mel tried to brainwash her children to believe the lies she had concocted about her ex.
With Belafonte now out of Angel’s life Gary thought it was important the child got to know her biological dad, Hollywood star Eddie Murphy, something else Mel was firmly against. ‘I had to convince her and talk to her, it took days. Eventually Angel went to Eddie Murphy’s house to meet her father,’ Gary said
He also claims Mel also pressured her daughter Angel to write a derogatory letter about Belafonte to block his request for visitation rights to the child.
Mel’s mother, Andrea Brown, shared the letter with a judge amid the singer’s custody dispute, detailing that she is ‘very frightened’ of Belafonte and never wants to see him again.
Mel finalized her divorce in December 2017, reaching an agreement over their shared assets and custody of their daughter Madison.
But Belafonte wanted to see Angel, whom he had raised since birth, while Mel hated the idea.
Andrea posted pictures of three handwritten notes on Twitter, alongside the caption: ‘A cry 4 help.’
While Mel’s mother was seemingly supportive of her daughter during the custody battle Gary says she too was at the thick end of Mel’s abuse.
The star subjected her mother to such ‘terrible’ emotional abuse during a trip over from the UK that she went to the airport in tears, he claims.
‘She texted me from the airport saying how thankful she is that she’s going home knowing that I am there to look after her grandchildren. She was an amazing woman, her mother, but she did not deserve this abuse.’
With Belafonte now out of Angel’s life Gary thought it was important the child got to know her biological dad, Hollywood star Eddie Murphy, something else Mel was firmly against.
Gary added: ‘She really needs help, I want everybody to know I’ve done my best’
The stylist was photographed alongside Mel on an almost daily basis as she arrived at court appearances, celebrity engagements and public events and he was a regular backstage on America’s Got Talent while Mel was a judge
‘I told Melanie that Angel needs to know who her father is, who her brother is, her sister. She has nine brothers and sisters,’ said Gary.
‘There was a mutual friend of Eddie Murphy’s mother who was speaking to Melanie, she was trying to talk to Mel to allow Angel to meet up with him, but she did not agree with it.
‘I had to convince her and talk to her, it took days. Eventually Angel went to Eddie Murphy’s house to meet her father.’
Gary finally parted ways with Mel in March this year as the star prepared to embark on her Spice Girls reunion tour in May.
He says he has been left traumatized by his experience and has ‘flashbacks’ almost every day.
‘This pain is going to stay with me for the rest of my life,’ he said.
He said it took a lot of courage to speak out about Mel because he respects the privacy of his clients and friends.
But he added: ‘She really needs help, I want everybody to know I’ve done my best.
‘I hope one day she realizes what she did to me, what she did to her kids, what she did to her mother.
‘She’s nasty and abusive to everyone in her life and once she’s done with you you’re gone.
‘She used and abused me for two years and I couldn’t take it anymore, I had to leave. But it breaks my heart because I had to leave those kids behind.’