Mel B Talks About Geri Halliwell Leaving The Spice Girls: “It Was Bad”

Bradley Stern | September 18, 2014 6:51 am

It’s been over sixteen years now since Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice!) famously left The Spice Girls at the height of their popularity in 1998, and Mel B is still recalling the bitterness in the group that followed her unexpected exit.

During an interview with Larry King, Scary Spice — who just wrapped up her latest stint as an America’s Got Talent judge — revealed that their “5 year plan” for the group got cut short to 3 years after Geri suddenly quit the band due to ongoing pressure she was dealing with regarding body image and depression. “When Geri left the group, it was bad,” she told King. “She left on my birthday and didn’t tell anybody. She just didn’t show up. We had the rest of the tour, the American part of the tour,” she explained. (Also, it appears Larry is just now learning that Geri left the group.)

Was there bitterness? “Yeah, for a long time,” she revealed. “I’m still reminded of it. I saw her a couple weeks ago and said ‘Remember when you left on my birthday?'” she laughs, sounding a bit irked. (We were too!)

While nothing will ever top the Spice Girls at their peak, it’s nice to see that the girls have all gone on to do great things for themselves as individuals nearly two decades later. Besides — we will always have girl power. (And Spice World.)

Do you remember when Geri left the group? Sound off on the comments below!