Mel B, the renowned singer in the UK-based Spice Girl, is set to receive an honorary doctorate from Leeds Beckett University next month in recognition of her impactful charity work supporting survivors of domestic abuse.
Mel B, born Melanie Brown, has become a prominent advocate for domestic abuse victims after leaving what she has described as an abusive relationship.
Her commitment to this cause has been unwavering, leading to significant roles and accolades. In 2018, she was made a patron of Women’s Aid, and in 2022, she received an MBE for her services to charitable causes and vulnerable women.
Expressing her gratitude, Brown called the honorary doctorate “an incredible honor.”
She shared that she has also been studying at Leeds Beckett University in her native city, completing a course in trauma-informed care.
“Since leaving my marriage, I’ve told friends and family I’d love to go to uni, but I don’t think people took it seriously,” she told BBC. “But this gave me an opportunity to actually do it. I am proud to feel part of this university in my hometown and proud to have come here as Melanie Brown, proud to have worked alongside other students and received excellent guidance from the teaching staff.”
Leeds Beckett vice chancellor, Professor Peter Slee, praised Brown’s achievements and contributions, stating:
“I would like to congratulate Melanie Brown MBE on this honorary degree. As a child of this city who reached the top of her industry, then used her platform to advocate for those who shared her hardships, Melanie is exactly the type of citizen we are here to champion.”
Brown’s journey has not been without its challenges. In March, she spoke to the BBC about the difficulties she faced after leaving her ex-husband Stephen Belafonte, moving into her mum’s bungalow.
“I wasn’t just emotionally and physically abused, there was all the financial abuse, too,” she revealed. “I didn’t realize that I didn’t have as much money as I thought I had. So I literally had to eat humble pie, live with my mum.”
Belafonte, a film producer, has repeatedly denied the allegations made against him by Brown.
Mel B’s recognition by Leeds Beckett University not only celebrates her personal achievements but also underscores the importance of advocacy and support for survivors of domestic abuse.
