We don't mean to sound overtly flippant by the title; between the hospitalisation after the car collapse, the estranged family going bananas with worry, the bruises, and yet still managing to appear on X Factor for the final, without her wedding ring, despite "nearly dying" - it has been an exceptionally busy week for Mel B. 

Now, the former Spice Girl has reportedly walked out on Stephen Belafonte with their seven year marriage on "life support". I'm sure there were more dramatic ways of describing it the state of their relationship, but that's the one sources have gone with. 

The pair are believed to have rowed heavily last week just before Mel was hospitalised with crippling stomach pains on Thursday. 

A source revealed: "Mel's marriage has reached crisis point - in fact it's on life support. She has told friends it is over with Stephen. It was a very symbolic gesture when she removed her wedding ring before appearing on The X Factor final on Sunday night. She knew what she was doing and wanted to send Stephen a clear message about her feelings."

The 39-year-old singer - who has Madison, three with Stephen and Phoenix Chi, 15 and Angel, seven, from previous relationships with Jimmy Gulzar (once held Phoenix Chi captive) and Eddie Murphy (refused to acknowledge Angel was his until a paternity test was done) - was reportedly forced to endure her hospital stint on her own, with Stephen (pictured here with Mel on December 2nd, in the same attire as Lewis Hamilton's recent date) not calling or visiting her once.

The source continued: "Mel hasn't spoken to Stephen once since her admission to hospital last week and as it stands she doesn't want to see him. He didn't come to the hospital at all. It's a very sad state of affairs given she could have died. Everyone around her is encouraging her to stay strong and to leave him for good this time because they don't believe their relationship is healthy."

OK, so while sources won't confirm what was wrong with Mel, they are happy to release statements like "she could have died." I'm sure if Stephen knew she "could have died" he would've visited; he was under the illusion that Simon Cowell "was just doing press" to boost ratings for a show that should've been culled over 5 years ago - a show which Mel B still managed to attend despite nearly dying three days previous. Just saying.

It has not been confirmed whether the couple's split is permanent but Mel's friends are encouraging her to "take time out".

The source added to The Sun: "Things have been very rocky over the last few weeks but Mel had been trying to put it all to one side so she could focus on Andrea [Faustini; her X Factor contestant] and the show. Last week everything escalated and there were a number of very big rows before Mel ended up in hospital. Her stress levels are very high and most of her good friends and colleagues were encouraging her to take time out from Stephen. That's now what she's doing, but the question is for how long?"

Probably until there's another TV show to promote. Not to be overly flippant, or anything.