Mel B's husband denies 'disgusting' rumours that he hit his wife

Stephen Belafonte speaks out after fans accused him of hitting his wife following her bruised and tired appearance on The X Factor.

14:51 15 December 2014

Spice Girl turned X Factor judge Mel B’s husband Stephen Belafonte has called rumours claiming he hit his wife “disgusting and untrue.”

The rumours started when Mel B missed Saturday night’s programme after being rushed to the hospital. She returned to the ITV show for the final in London with an apparently “bruised and swollen face” and wasn’t wearing her wedding ring.

Within minutes after the show started, fans took to Twitter and talked about her bruises.

Luke Robinson wrote: 'So Mel B was APPARANTLY beaten up by her husband that's why she couldn't make it last night. Hense the bruise on cheek and no wedding ring.'

Tom Stoneman tweeted: 'Mel B's got a well iffy bruise on her cheek, scratches on the top of her arms and no wedding ring.... #xfactor.

Meanwhile, Katy Perry Cherry wrote: 'hope it's not true about Mel B! just seems a bit odd how her "wedding ring was stolen in hospital" and she's got a bruise on her cheek..'

On Monday morning, a furious Stephen Belafonte hit back saying: 'I don't usually respond to Twitter msgs but I will respond to comments of hitting my wife which I think are quite disgusting un true!’

'Mel was very ill a bunch of doctors helped her get better if fans can't just relax B4 being negative they r not real fans of @OfficialMelB.' (sic)