Former Spice Girl Mel B is sending her support to Rihanna in the wake of the 20-year-old’s domestic violence scandal.

The singer- who struck up a friendship with the “Umbrella” star last year – says she was shocked to hear that Rihanna was allegedly beaten up by R&B-singing boyfriend Chris Brown earlier this month.

“I was shocked when the news broke last week of my pal Rihanna allegedly being beaten up by Chris Brown. 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,” Mel said in an interview with Britain’s Closer Magazine this week.

“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.”