MEL: I GOT THEM
Nanny tells of her relief at fixing Spice reunion
The singer feared her reunion plan was failing and was overjoyed when she talked them round, her former nanny Rusty Updegraff reveals today. Rusty spent eight months living and working with Mel, who tells how she blew an €90million fortune in her new memoir Brutally Honest. In the book she also hits out at ex-husband Stephen Belafonte, 43, saying he subjected her to emotional abuse during their marriage. And she discloses that superstar actor Eddie Murphy – dad of her 11-year-old daughter Angel – was the one true love of her life. Rusty today tells how Mel, 43, confronted Emma Bunton, 42, Geri Horner, 46, and Melanie Chisholm, 44, at a crisis meeting. “Mel said she told them, ‘You’re the ones who need the money – not me’,” he said. “Mel told me she talked them round and at that stage even Victoria was going to do it. Mel was overjoyed when she got home and announced: ‘I got them – they’re all on board.’” But Posh, 44 – will not be therwhen they kick off a UK tour in Cardiff on May 27. “I don’t know what happened with Victoria,” Rusty said. “Mel likes to be in control so that may have caused issues. I’m happy for her that the Spice Girls are reuniting – I hope she uses that as a springboard to get her head together.” Rusty insists Mel is “obsessed” with ex Stephen – seen with a new woman in our exclusive picture. He said: “I wish someone would call her out because in my mind Mel is still in love with Stephen. “Secretly I believe Mel is lost without him, but I cannot imagine he would have her back.” He also revealed how Simon Cowell stopped her losing her €2million a year America’s Got Talent job. Rusty said: “Simon protected her. I felt Simon did care and worried about her.” Eddie Murphy
halina.watts@mirror.com