After Geri Horner denies Mel B's claim they had a romance, pals say Scary Spice is threatening to boycott the band's tour.
Their upcoming Spice World shows are just two months away, but as the feud between Mel B and Geri Horner raged on last week, insiders say Mel is now threatening to call it off unless Geri admits to their reported romantic relationship.
The drama kicked off recently when Mel, 43, claimed during an interview with Piers Morgan that she had sex with Geri back in their bandmate days, adding, “It just happened, we just giggled at it and that was it.”
CHECK OUT times the Spice Girls gave us life
CLOSER Six times the Spice Girls gave us life
1 of 16When Geri wore THAT iconic dress
Geri's Union Jack dress has become synonymous with the Spice Girls and girl power in general. The dress came to be at the 1997 BRIT Awards because Geri didn't want to wear the black Gucci dress her stylist had given her...so she glued a Union Jack tea towel to the front of it. She later sold it at auction for £40,000.
2 of 16When they got the royal treatment
The Spice Girls never held back - even when meeting the monarchy. Mel C broke royal protocol by kissing Prince Charles on the cheek when she met him at a Prince's Trust concert in 1997. Meanwhile Geri went in for the kill with a pinch of the bum...
3 of 16AND when they got the royals fangirling
In the words of Regina George's mum 'I'm not a regular mom, I'm a cool mom'. If this photo isn't proof that Fergie is the COOLEST mum, then we don't know what is. Princess Eugenie and Beatrice look beyond thrilled to meet their idols.
4 of 16When Nelson Mandela admitted to being their biggest fan
The political icon famously said, "These are my heroes. This is one of the greatest moments in my life", when he met the Spice Girls in November 1997.
5 of 16And Adele too for that matter...
When the Spice Girls announced their reunion tour, Adele posted a throwback on Instagram, captioned 'HA! This is how I feel right now! I AM READY'. We feel your excitement, Adele.
6 of 16When they made a film
Released in December 1997, Spiceworld: The Movie, is arguably the film of our generation. So it's no surprise that names such as Roger Moore, Stephen Fry, Elton John, Jennifer Saunders and Richard E. Grant all wanted to get involved.
7 of 16When they finally reunited
In 2008, the Spice Girls gave us EXACTLY what we'd been dreaming of since they split in 1998 - when they announced their reunion tour. The girls even brought their babies on stage. Verdict: definitely worth the wait.
8 of 16When they showed us the true meaning of "Sporty" Spice
The Spice Girls were undoubtedly the main event at the 2012 Olympics closing ceremony in London. When they popped out of their black cabs, it's fair to say that it was the best surprise we've ever had.
9 of 16When they proved they were just like the rest of us
We didn't think it was possible to fall even more in love with the Spice Girls until we found out VB isn't so POSH after all - besides, who doesn't take part in a last minute TESCO dash at Christmas?
10 of 16AND when she showed her humour AND flexibility
Don't mind V.B, just adopting a casual pose whilst she reads through emails on her lush sofa... seriously Posh, you are one funny woman. We're already practicing the same leg-pose for when we eventually reply to work emails.
11 of 16When they decked out a London bus in the Union Jack flag
Come on... who wouldn't want to ride in the one and only spice girls tour bus!? We are OBSESSED. When can we hitch a lift?
12 of 16When Geri met Charles...
Who can forget when Geri met Prince Charles at the 1st anniversary concert for the Princes' Trust in 1997? Ginger spice certainly wasn't shy in THAT outfit - she even enjoyed a cheeky flirt with the prince.
13 of 16And then Geri and Charles reunited 22 years later
A much more sophisticated meeting this time. The pair looked like good old friends catching up as they chatted all things spice at another Princes' Trust event over two decades later.
14 of 16When London's favourite girlband took on PARIS
Bonjour Paris. Spice girls are giving us all the feels in this adorable snap in front on the Eiffel tower during their 1998 world tour. Throwback Thursday goals.
15 of 16When Posh had that haircut... but the spice girls let her have her hair moment without judgement
When Posh had that infamous haircut, the spice girls let her get on with it without passing judgement. That's true friendship, surely?
16 of 16When four of the band announced a 2019 reunion... and Posh showed her support
When four of the band announced a 2019 reunion, Posh still showed her support. Victoria took to Instagram to support her former bandmates. She said, "Today marks a special day for the girls as they announce the first tour dates since we performed together in 2012! 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 as they go back on tour next year. I know they will put on an amazing show and the fantastic fans past and present are going to have a wonderful time! "
Mum-of-two Geri told US radio DJ Howard Stern back in 2003, “I had lesbian sex once. I realised quickly I was not a lesbian.”
But the 46-year-old – who married Formula One’s Red Bull boss Christian Horner in 2015 – was reportedly left “deeply hurt” by Mel’s recent allegation.
A representative for Geri – mum to Bluebell, 12, from her relationship with screenwriter Sacha Gervasi, and Montague, two, with Christian – said, “What has been reported recently is simply not true and has been very hurtful to her family.”
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A source says, “Mel is angry and hurt by Geri’s reaction – she doesn’t understand why she’d deny it, as it was so long ago. Mel’s told Emma and Mel C that she refuses to perform alongside Geri unless she comes clean and tells the truth.
"She wants an apology from Geri – she says she’d rather lose the money from the tour than her dignity and pride. She’s excited about the tour and doesn’t want to pull out, but she’s furious she’s being made to look silly.”
When asked during a radio interview last week whether she had watched Mel’s TV confession, Emma Bunton, 43, said, “I haven’t seen it yet. It didn’t take long for my phone to melt.”
She and fellow Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm, 45 have reportedly been preparing for “epic rows” on tour and now sources say they are trying to make peace between Geri and Mel.
The source adds, “Emma and Mel are trying to smooth things over. Emma’s tried to convince Geri to talk to Mel, but Geri is said to be furious, and has said that the revelations have caused unnecessary pain for her.
“Emma and Mel C realise that, unless they step in, the tour could feel awkward – or may not go ahead at all. They’re trying to arrange ‘showdown talks’ for the girls – as soon as they both agree to turn up."
Read even more celeb news in this week's Closer magazine - out now.