Melanie B lends support to battered Rihanna

London, Feb 18 (ANI): Pop star Melanie B has been disgust by Chris Brown's alleged attack on her pal Rihanna, and has expressed her support for the 'Umbrella' hitmaker.

The former spice girl said that she was taken aback after she heard that Rihanna was battered by Brown, who left her with a split lip, a bloody nose and bite marks on her hands.

"I was shocked when the news broke last week of my pal Rihanna allegedly being beaten up by her boyfriend Chris Brown," the Mirror quoted Mel B as stating in Closer magazine.

"I heard Kanye West on the radio talking about it and I sent Rihanna a text to check if she was OK. I got to know her when she was working in the studio next door to me last year," she added.

Mel B also stated that Brown, who is guilty of allegedly attacking Rihanna, should be punished for his crime.

"For this to happen to a superstar like her is eye-opening. If the rumors are true then Chris should be punished. No woman deserves to be treated like that - and I hope she knows there's tons of support for her," Mel B added. (ANI)