Mel B has shocked fans by shopping in budget supermarkets
The 49-year-old pop star - who has Phoenix, 25, with first husband Jimmy Gulzar, Angel, 17, from her relationship with Hollywood actor Eddie Murphy and Madison, 13, with second husband Stephen Belafonte - lived in Los Angeles after her time as part of the Spice Girls but upon returning to her native Leeds in the UK, discovered that people would "double-take" at her when they spotted her in discount stores
2 February 2025
Speaking on the 'Routes' podcast, she said: "I'm a Leeds girl through and through, Not just my accent, which I've never tried to change and I wouldn't want to change even though when I did 'America's Got Talent', they were questioning whether they should put subtitles on whoever I spoke!
"My kids say sometimes that when I go into the supermarket, Lidl or Aldi, or whatever, they laugh because people double take.
"Living in America, you see celebrities or people on TV all the time. You can be in the line with Tom Cruise at Whole Foods or wherever.
The 'I Want You Back' singer endured what she has alleged was an abusive relationship with Stephen - although he has always denied the claims - from 2007 until 2017 but explained that having returned to her hometown out of necessity, the public have been really "sympathetic" towards her because they know her story.
She said: "People would stare, but not really anymore because I've been so open about my story and coming back to Leeds, having suffered 10 years of abuse and financial abuse, having to move back in with my mum because I had no choice. I had no money.
"Leeds people are just really nice in general but because they know my story so they're just a bit sympathetic!"
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