Spice Girls singer Melanie Chisholm has condemned bandmate Geri Horner's past comments hailing Margaret Thatcher as 'the first Spice Girl'. In a candid interview with Louis Theroux, Mel C said the former Tory Prime Minister's name fills her with 'dread'.
Geri's Thatcher Comments Resurface
In 1996, Geri Horner told The Spectator: 'We Spice Girls are true Thatcherites. Thatcher was the first Spice Girl, the pioneer of our ideology – Girl Power.' Now, 52-year-old Mel C has spoken out against that notion, clarifying that not all bandmates shared that view.
'I grew up in the Northwest of England. My whole family are from Liverpool. On my dad's side of the family, the men have worked on the docks for generations. Obviously, that was very difficult for me because that was not my opinion,' she told Louis Theroux.
Tarred with the Same Brush
Mel C highlighted the difficulty of being associated with political statements made by other band members. 'I think that was one of the things that was hard about the Spice Girls is that we could get tarred with the same brush. If somebody had an opinion, a political opinion, everyone would think that’s what everybody thought and felt, and it wasn’t the case.'
She added: 'People know that now. But being a young girl going back to Liverpool… It’s like, “Oh, the Spice Girls have said this.” It’s just like, “Sh*t, I didn’t say it.”'
Spice Girls' Future and 30th Anniversary
Mel C also discussed the band's future, revealing they are 'discussing lots of great opportunities'. She stressed that no member has left the group. 'No one’s left. I love it. When I’m doing shows and stuff, and if people want to introduce me, when they say former Spice Girl, I'm really offended. Because once a Spice Girl, always a Spice Girl. I think we all feel like that.'
Regarding plans for the band's 30th anniversary this year, she said: 'We want to. Everything's in discussion. But it's a really positive time for us.'
Personal Struggles and Compliments
In the interview, Mel C opened up about her battle with depression and an eating disorder during Spice Mania. She also shared a light-hearted moment about action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger complimenting her muscles. 'He did compliment my guns once,' she said.
The Louis Theroux Podcast is available on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
