They only announced their reunion last week, but the Spice Girls are already at each other’s throats, thanks to big mouth Mel B and bossy boots Geri
Friendship never ends, but rivalries last a lifetime
They zig-a-zig-ahed back into the spotlight last week, after finally confirming that they were indeed heading back on tour. But despite putting on a united front as they hit the promo circuit – displaying their expert (*cough* Autotuned) harmonies along the way – we’re told things are far from harmonious back at Spice Girls HQ. In fact, according to insiders, tensions are at an all-time high between Geri Horner, Emma Bunton, Mel B and Mel C, with rifts reemerging before they’ve even hit rehearsals. And, surprisingly, Victoria Beckham’s no-show is the least of their problems.
“They’re all looking forward to connecting with their fans again, but things haven’t got any less complicated when it comes to getting them all on the same page and agreeing with each other,” an insider close to the big four tells heat. “They’ve always fought like siblings and old habits die hard, so there’s still a lot of festering resentments. It’s going to be a rocky tour for sure.”
Their first area of strife is over a certain absent Mrs B. While Victoria was quick to wish the girls good luck on their tour, telling fans, “I won’t be joining my girls on stage again, but being in the Spice Girls was a hugely important part of my life and I wish them so much love and fun”, her well-wishes have fallen on deaf ears among some scarier members of the group. Just days before they made their official announcement, Mel B rocked up to Heidi Klum’s Halloween party in fancy dress as Posh, carrying an axe with the words, “No, I am not going on tour,” written across it. And, apparently, her stunt did not go down well with her bandmates.
“Emma thinks what Mel did was petty, and is worried that she’s going to make a snide remark about Vic while onstage, which is not what the fans want to hear,” our source reveals. “It also upset Mel C, because she’s stayed close to Vic. All in all, Mel B is
considered a bit volatile – they’re worried about her mouthing off in interviews and they want to protect the band’s legacy by being classy.”
And it’s not just Scary Spice causing trouble. In the promotional clip they released last week, the Spice Girls poked fun at Geri’s attention-seeking antics. But according to our source, it wasn’t too far from the truth. “Geri has been trying to take charge as usual and put all her zany ideas into the tour,” we’re told. “But the other girls feel that it should be left to them to make the big decisions, as they were the ones who were in the band longer and didn’t quit [Geri famously left before their US tour in 1998]. Geri’s mind goes 100 miles a minute and she’s always trying to come up with quirky ideas, while they think they should just focus on paying homage to their old routines. There will be big smiles on the night, but it’s going to be a nightmare for everyone working behind the scenes.”
With the girls reported to be earning £2.2m each for the six-date tour, let’s hope they’ll be able to put aside their differences for the sake of the show. But we’ll be taking out insurance on our tickets, just in case. ■