New York (ANI): Mel Brown is furious over the treatment given by the press to hubby Stephen Belafonte. The Scary Spice said that she hates the way paparazzi have treated him. "They're trying to make him out to be this aggressive, violent, woman batterer, and he's not...If you read those police reports, they never say he physically beat up a woman," New York Post quoted the singer, as telling Hello magazine.

A close friend of the Spice Girl said that Mel loves Stephen a lot and without him her life would have been tough. The friend also said that Belafonte's regular attendance at his wife's Dancing With the Stars tappings was interpreted as jealousy of Mel's partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy by show staff.

"The scrutiny has gotten so intense that Belafonte's regular attendance at his wife's Dancing With the Stars tappings (support which touched the erstwhile Scary Spice) was interpreted as jealousy of Mel's partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy by show staff." the pal added. "Mel loves Stephen...if it wasn't for him by her side life would have been a lot tougher," a friend told PageSix.com

According to the sources, Mel B's considers Stephen as her rock. "Mel calls Stephen her rock. She hates the way the media has treated him," the source added. Mel had recently told PageSix.com at a party at West Hollywood hotspot Hyde that she adores her husband. "I love Stephen. We've been sweethearts for years and he's a good man."