Mel gets a rise out of Si
Singer handed 18% deal for America’s Got Talent return
MEL B has landed a pay rise of 18 per cent to return to America’s Got Talent.
Simon Cowell helped the singer, 42, win the deal, which means she’ll take home €2.45million for the series.
The rise will ease her money worries after her €7.5million divorce from Stephen Belafonte.
The show boss pushed for Mel’s return and is said to have urged station NBC and his production firm Syco to share the cost of her rise.
Her return is due to be announced soon. A US source said: “Mel is delighted to be back. Her €2.45million offer is a great deal. Simon has been very supportive, despite her troubles. He feels that she is an essential part of the show.”
Cowell, 58, will also let Mel work around the Spice Girls reunion. She and Victoria Beckham, Geri Horner, Mel C and Emma Bunton plan a documentary, a TV special and a compilation album.
However, the girls are still at odds over a concert series.
The US source said: “Mel’s decision to sign for AGT shows too no one is locked in for the gigs as summer would be the best time for business.”
Syco did not respond to a request for comment.
scoops@sundaymirror.co.uk
ONE famous face missing from the Brit Awards was X Factor boss Simon Cowell.
I’m told that Simon, 58, spent the night indoors trying to shake off a chest infection.
But, according to his former flame Jackie St Clair, Simon often used to stay away from the gongs – in case he got grief from musos.
She said: “Simon would always say he was worried that people would throw eggs or tomatoes at him because his music was too poppy.
“That’s why, back in the day, he’d never, ever go.” The music mogul is right to be wary of eggs. In the 2013 Britain’s Got Talent final a violinist egged him in protest against his “dreadful influence” on the industry.
And during Wednesday’s glitzy show he was compared to dictator Kim Jong-un. Host Jack Whitehall, 29, introduced the audience to the North Korean “cheerleading team”.
They waved and held up masks of the country’s leader Kim Jong-un to which Jack said: “Ladies, remember I said we can’t wear that evil dictator’s mask live on ITV.”
The cheerleaders – actually audience members – went on to hold up masks showing Simon’s face instead.
“Much better. Weirdly same haircut,” added Jack. Simon did attend the last two Brit Awards and is a regular feature of the swanky Sony after-parties. Despite the risk of ending up with egg on his face, I’m told Simon will be back at the top music bash next year. Should be a cracker.