Mel C Explains Opting Out Of Spice Girls Reunion, Poses For Sexy (& Sporty) ‘Love’ Photos

Robbie Daw | August 30, 2016 10:29 am

It was pretty much a given that Victoria Beckham, head of a fashion empire — not to mention one of the most famous families in the world — would not be taking part in a Spice Girls reunion anytime soon. But when Emma Bunton, Geri Horner (née Halliwell) and Melanie Brown announced plans to record new tunes earlier this summer, the group was obviously missing its most sporty (and, arguably, vocally talented) member: Melanie Chisholm.

“Things were so different in the early days of the Spice Girls,” Chisholm writes in a new essay for Love Magazine. “Nobody had the internet (it was all pagers and faxes) and we were written about most days in the tabloids but the only access to that was popping down to the newsagents at the crack of dawn to check out the gossip columns.”

Backing up a bit, the singer explains that she grew up idolizing and desiring the type of fame Madonna and George Michael had in the 1980s and early 1990s — aka the pre-Spice days.

“Looking back it all seems quite charming – but it wasn’t,” Chisholm continues. “I guess my relationship with the media took some time to settle. Misquotes, poisonous gossip and you’re forever questioned and judged. Thankfully, it felt like they were writing about a stranger most of the time.”

You’re starting to see where this is going. Mel seems to have simply had enough of the spotlight.

“I often feel sorry for young people in the public eye now. They can’t even let their hair down without their lives being in turmoil,” she laments. “The reality of the situation – you are more than likely just having a few bevvies down the pub with your mates. Somebody decides to film you on an iPhone and within seconds it’s gone viral. Cool. Is nothing sacred anymore? Then again some seem to want that sort of shit?!”

Okay, but Mel, you’re a 42-year-old adult at this point who surely can navigate the dodgy waters of fame with a bit or perspective, no?

As for where exactly her head is on the Spice reunion, here you go:

Look, I will be a Spice Girl until I die. But the continuous speculation on whether we will reform to celebrate 20 years of Wannabe has been particularly exhausting. Don’t get me wrong – I totally get it. But is it a new rule that bands have to reform? Why can’t we just be remembered for our incredible achievements in the nineties.

When we embarked on the reunion tour it was amazing, scary and surreal all at the same time. The five of us back together again. Like we’d stepped back in time for a global celebration of the band.

Truth be told, earlier this year after several face-to-face meetings with the girls I made the difficult decision not to be part of a proposed reunion with Emma, Geri and Melanie. Victoria had already bowed out understandably with the demands of her fashion label and her rather large family.

The hardest part for me was letting people down, the girls, the fans, civilisation?! Unfortunately something didn’t feel quite right and I had to follow my gut.

Sad face. Cue up…

Head over to Love to see Melanie’s full write-up, plus more photos.

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