How The Spice Girls have been plagued by infighting and scandal - as it's revealed two of Mel B's bandmates will NOT attend her wedding on Saturday

Daily Mail​

2 days ago

They were the face of Girl Power in the Nineties and famously championed the notion of women supporting women.
Yet while they may have sung that 'friendship never ends', the Spice Girls struggled to practise what they preached, famously falling out on several occasions.
The latest saga to befall the group concerns Mel B 's wedding to Rory McPhee on Saturday, with The Mail revealing this week that neither Victoria Beckham or Geri Halliwell -Horner will be in attendance.
There is also a suggestion that another member of the band, either Emma Bunton or Mel C, will snub the ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral.
Over the years, outspoken Mel has been accused of rubbing up her bandmates the wrong way, often finding herself at the centre of many explosive fallouts.
Now, with the group seemingly sending a telling message by skipping her big day, MailOnline takes a look at the band's spiciest snubs and fallouts over the years - from Geri quitting the band to Mel B's very catty comments.
Goodbye My Friend: The 90s
Geri quits the band
The root of the Spice Girls' feud can be traced back to the Nineties, when the band were at the height of their fame.
Less than two years after Wannabe topped charts, Geri announced she'd had enough and confirmed her departure from the group in May 1998 in the middle of their world tour.
Her shock decision to leave at the peak of their fame and right before their concerts in the US was never going to go down well, but her move to quit on Mel B's birthday especially hit a nerve.
Scary Spice didn't mince her words in a subsequent TV interview, saying: 'When Geri left the group, it was bad. She left on my birthday and didn't tell anybody. She didn't show up. We had the American part of the tour to continue.'
Geri announced she had left the group via her lawyer, claiming that she was suffering from exhaustion and wanted to take a break; however, rumours rumbled that she had come to blows with Mel B.
Mel's ex-husband Jimmy Gulzar later said that Scary Spice was particularly hurt because they were 'really, really close'.
He hinted at rumours the pair had once had a fling, saying: 'Melanie had showed me and told me how close she was with Geri. Melanie and Geri have a relationship with each other that was deeper than a lot of people think.'
With Geri gone from the Spice Girls, her bandmates were not shy about voicing their criticisms about her lack of natural vocal ability.
Sporty Spice even went as far as to call Geri 'untalented' during an appearance on the TV show CD:UK in 2003, after presenter Cat Deeley asked her about Geri critiquing other pop acts.
'Does she have the qualifications? What is your opinion?' Cat asked.
Sporty responded by saying: 'My personal opinion is that I don't think that she does, I don't think she is of a talent.'
Better Give Up On The Good Times: The 2000s
A reunion causes tension
Fans rejoiced in 2007 when the Spice Girls announced they would finally be reuniting as a five-piece, with each member reportedly paid £10 million to participate.
However, even the giant paycheque couldn't keep the tour from being dogged by disaster, which was ultimately cut short.
At the time, the group blamed 'family and personal commitments', but details later emerged of the drama going on behind the scenes.
During rehearsals in 2007, Emma was in tears, intimidated by everyone's egos and (as a new mother to baby Beau) plain exhausted.
Meanwhile, Geri drove them all to distraction by stopping a video shoot so that she could meditate.
Victoria was said to have infuriated them by constantly chatting on her phone, mostly to David, although at one point she said: 'I had to get that — it was Donatella (Versace).'
She apparently behaved very much the superstar, with a retinue of bodyguards and assistants.
Mel C then claimed she'd been bullied into coming on board. She said later: 'They basically said if I didn't want to do it then they were going to do it anyway...
'I didn't want to be the person who stopped it being the complete five. I was scared that I would be the villain.'
Geri was said to have hated the atmosphere and the internal politics, and was the first to say that she was thinking of quitting.
And then Mel B said that she, too, wanted out. She confessed: 'I wasn't in a very good space with my marriage and I didn't feel I could go on any more, living in this fake world.
'It was my fault, so I was determined to get us back together and I'm still determined it will be five at one point.'
In another blow, their comeback single, Headlines, in 2007 was a flop, limping into the charts at number 20.
Victoria snubs the reunion
Proving they hadn't learnt from the previous tour disaster, the Spice Girls announced their plans to reform again in 2019.
However, this time, not everyone was on board, with Victoria refusing to join the lineup - much to the annoyance of her bandmates.
By this time, she had ditched her WAG image and was distancing herself from her Posh Spice image in order to reinvent herself as a serious fashion designer.
At the time a well-placed source revealed to MailOnline, there was a vicious falling-out between the four remaining Spice Girls and Victoria and their former manager, Simon Fuller.
It culminated in a furious text being sent from Mel B to Victoria after she pulled out of the tour, having apparently saying she was fully on board.
Stirring up tensions further, according to the source, was Victoria posing in Spice-inspired outfits for her Vogue shoot earlier the same year, which drove Mel B into a foul-mouthed rage.
A source claimed at the time: 'The girls are furious with Victoria for initially agreeing to reunite, at one stage she even threatened to go legal if the girls cashed in on the brand minus her.
Mel B then made her feelings known on the subject when she dressed up as Victoria for a Halloween party, holding a sign to indicate that she wouldn't tour even if the fans begged and added that they have a 'love hate relationship'.
For her part, Victoria was said to be 'furious' with Mel B for her constant discussion of the Spice Girls reunion - and for making her look like the bad guy.
Sources claimed that the designer 'never agreed' to reunite for a comeback, and was frustrated with her band mate for making out she is the 'killjoy' of the group.
A source said: 'Victoria was always up for a catch-up and the prospect of a celebration of the band's work. But going out on the road for concerts was never something she agreed to.'
Mel B and Geri go to war
Prior to the tour, Mel B caused upset by revealing on Piers Morgan's Life Stories that she and Geri enjoyed a lesbian fling during the band's Nineties heyday.
Sources close to Geri, who's now married to millionaire Christian Horner and lives with the F1 boss at their 15th century Oxfordshire estate, said the singer was 'livid' following Mel B's claims.
Mel told Piers: 'She's going to hate me for this because she's all posh in her country house with her husband. But it's a fact. It just happened, and we just giggled at it and that was it.'
Adding that their tryst was a one off, she said: 'She's going to kill me and so's her husband. She's not that posh now, is she?'
After a week of silence, Geri responded to Mel B's comments with a statement denying her version of events.
'It has been very disappointing to read about all these rumors again, especially on Mother's Day of all days,' a spokesperson said. 'Geri loves the Spice Girls: Emma, Melanie, Melanie and Victoria.
'She would like [the fans] to know that what has been reported recently is simply not true and has been very hurtful to her family. Moving forward, Geri can't wait to see the girls and all the fans on the tour, have an amazing time with everyone, and make some new memories.'
Scary Spice was slammed for using 'lesbianism as a PR strategy' ahead of their reunion tour and following Geri's reaction, attempted to backpedal on her story.
The women have reportedly squabbled in recent years over Geri's new 'la-di-da' image, which tends to rub Leeds-born Mel up the wrong way.
Mel B and Geri were also said to have clashed over differences in opinion regarding their tour costumes.
Geri, who now only wears cream and has adopted a more wholesome image, wanted to reflect the group's age and the fact they were all mothers - while Mel B was eager to relaunch herself as an 'sexy star.'
A source told The Sun in 2019: 'The gigs will go ahead whatever happens, but those two couldn't be more divided and both see themselves as the boss. Everyone involved is braced for some epic arguments once they're back together.'
Spice Up Your Insults: The 2020s
Mel B reignites the feud
Just as things seemed to have simmered between the Spice Girls, Mel B sparked Geri's wrath when she claimed the singer was lying about her age.
Mel told Olivia Attwood on her podcast So Wrong It's Right: 'No one knows how old Geri is. No one's seen her passport.
'I mean, I know we've travelled the world, but I still don't know how old she is. Well, she claims she just had her 50th birthday, but I don't believe her.'
She went on to rub salt in the wound when Geri turned 52, sharing an unflattering photo of the pair on social media, wishing her pal a 'Happy 75th Birthday.'
A frosty reunion at Victoria's 50th
Shortly after Mel's cheeky comments, the band reunited for Victoria's 50th birthday in April last year - attending the luxurious party held at Oswald's in London and posing together for a group shot.
But behind the smiles The Sun claimed that Geri and Mel B were feeling tense.
A source told the publication: 'Mel tried to smooth things over with Geri at the party but it didn't go as planned. She was laughing it all off but Geri didn't seem interested in hearing what she had to say and wandered off.
'When it came to taking their group picture, Geri kept as far away from Mel as possible which was awkward to watch.
'Geri wanted to be there to celebrate and have a good laugh with everyone, not talk to Mel about the embarrassing things she's said about her.'
After posing together as a five for a snap, later in the night the former band were seen singing their 1997 hit Stop together - in footage captured by David Beckham. But again the pair were at opposite ends of the line.
Yet Victoria - who later gushed being reunited with the band was the 'best gift' - also shared the clip, writing 'best night ever! Happy Birthday to me! I love you all so much! #SpiceUpYourLife'.
Shortly after the party, several members of the Spice Girls were left 'furious' after unflattering details from a conversation emerged in court documents, according to reports.
Mel B, Geri and Emma were said to have been left red-faced after a private conversation between the group was leaked in a defamation case.
The private conversation between the group was leaked in a defamation case Mel B told bandmates Geri and Emma that 'charity doesn't pay the bills', during an apparent discussion about reuniting for a gig, according to The Sun.
The publication reported that the leaked messages - which were revealed as part of a defamation case in the United States - have infuriated the stars.
There was also apparently a string of emails gossiping about the way Victoria acted at the Viva Forever! West End musical premiere on December 11, 2012.
The fashion designer delayed the curtain call of the West End musical based on the Spice Girls' biggest hits by 15 minutes after getting stuck in traffic.
Once she arrived, she decided to set separately from the rest of the group, taking her seat two rows behind the other women with her husband David and their kids.
According to the publication's insider, Victoria's snub did not go down well with Mel B in particular.
Geri pulls the plug
Amid her ongoing feud with Mel B, Geri was then said to have pulled the plug on plans for a new Spice Girls tour.
The group had been in discussions about another run of dates and had even made contact with Victoria about a possible cameo appearance - with the band excited about replicating the success of their last shows.
But insiders say a bitter rift between Geri and Mel had driven a wedge between the group and Geri opted to walk away entirely.
A source told MailOnline: 'Geri has had enough to deal with after all the drama with her husband's relationship with his assistant - it has been a tough enough time - and she's just lost patience with Mel and her little digs and jibes.
'She's walked away and without Geri it's really not going to happen - in the past she's been a driving force in the group, but she doesn't want to deal with Mel at all at the moment let alone share a stage with her.'
Insiders say there had been many more digs and jibes behind the scenes which have infuriated Geri - who has had a tough year amid allegations of her Formula One chief husband Christian's inappropriate behaviour with a female assistant.
The source added: 'They've always had a tricky relationship but this has got very messy now and nobody has been able to smooth things over between them - so it's all off again.'
Mel B doesn't hold back
With plans for a reunion in tatters, Mel let her acid tongue loose as she branded her bandmates d***heads'.
As Mel was pressed about why she was really removed from the chat on TV's Never Mind The Buzzcocks 90s special, she said: 'Because they're d***heads.'
When asked once again if she thinks a reunion could happen on the Sky Max panel show, Mel B said: 'I don't know. We'll see.'
She also claimed that she'd been banished from the WhatsApp group with Victoria, Geri, Melanie, and Emma over her chatterbox tendencies.
Geri derails another deal
In November, it was claimed Geri had derailed a lucrative Spice Girls deal that would have netted all five members £1million each.
According to The Sun, the five-piece were all approached about a drama series that came with a seven-figure payday.
Insiders claimed talks were going well until Geri decided to back out of her involvement in the project.
A source said: 'It would have seen five actresses taking on the roles of Posh, Ginger, Scary, Sporty and Baby.
'The venture would have landed them all pay deals of around £1million for essentially not lifting a finger.
'But as the negotiations ramped up, the others were told Geri had objected. The plans have basically been thrown out.'
The insider added that, without the agreement of Geri, it will be difficult to make the project happen.
Mel B's birthday blowout
Tension between the band still hadn't thawed by May, when Mel B celebrated her 50th with an epic party in Leeds, where she was surrounded by her friends and family.
There were two notable absences as Geri and Victoria were nowhere in sight as their Spice Girls bandmate hit the dancefloor.
The former X Factor judge pulled out all the stops for her big night as she joined her partner Rory and her children Angel, 18, and Phoenix, 26.
Also marking the milestone with Mel were her bandmates Mel C and Emma, who matched Scary's leopard print theme.
Insiders revealed to The Sun that fashion designer Victoria had 'a work commitment she couldn't get out of', yet Geri didn't give a reason for turning down the invite.
Mel B's wedding snub
The latest drama to hit the group is the lack of Spice Girls attending Mel B's wedding.
Victoria and Geri are both absent from the guest list for Scary Spice 's big in what otherwise promises to be a star-studded bash.
There is also a suggestion that another member of the band, either Emma or Mel C, are also not going.
Sources say that Posh, 51, will be abroad, with one explaining: 'Victoria has long standing plans out of the country and she simply can't be there.
'She adores Mel, they get on really well despite their paths going in opposite directions. It's a real shame.
'There is no issue between them, they haven't fallen out. It's just one of those things.'
It is the third time that Mel will say 'I do' after first marrying Dutch backing dancer Jimmy Gulzar in 1998.
For her big day, Mel wore a Vegas showgirl-style feathered headdress with a white and gold dress.
And when she wed Stephen Belafonte in 2007, they eloped to Las Vegas before holding a vow renewal in Egypt the following year.
Mel and Stephen separated in 2016 when she accused him of emotional and physical abuse, which he has always denied.
His lawyers said that during the marriage they spent her £50million fortune.
Mel grew close to Rory after the breakdown of her marriage to Stephen.
Last year, she said: 'He's a family friend, great hairdresser... when I went back to England, he would come over and give me hair treatments...
'And as he was nurturing my curls back, I guess he was nurturing my trust and belief in a relationship.'
She is able to marry him at St Paul's Cathedral because of her OBE, which she got in 2022 for her services to charitable causes and vulnerable women, especially Woman's Aid.