All Saints singer Melanie Blatt has openly declared she will forever have 'beef' with the Spice Girls, humourously confirming fan suspicions that she is 'bitter' about the rival group's stratospheric success.
A Candid Confession on Sunday Brunch
The 50-year-old pop star made the frank admission during an appearance on Channel 4's Sunday Brunch, hosted by Simon Rimmer and Tim Lovejoy. The conversation turned to the BBC's new documentary, Girlbands Forever, in which Melanie had previously expressed frustration that her band's years of hard work were eclipsed by the rapid, 'manufactured' rise of the Spice Girls.
Discussing the enduring rivalry and how fans perceive her, Melanie shared a moment of self-aware honesty. 'A lot of them are saying "you come across as bitter,"' she revealed, before pausing and announcing to laughter, 'I am. I am bitter and I'm jealous.'
Friendship Amidst the Rivalry
Despite her lingering feelings about the bands' competition, Melanie was quick to highlight her close personal friendship with Spice Girl Emma Bunton. 'I love Emma, she's a good mate,' she stated, adding that she also knows Mel C a little and thinks she is 'amazing'.
For Melanie, the core of the issue was not the individuals, but the commercial concept. 'It was more the concept of having music and selling crisps and lollipops and stuff like that that I had a problem with,' she explained.
The 'Dirty Word' of Being a Girlband
The All Saints star elaborated on her band's desire to be recognised purely for their music. 'We worked so hard, even being called a girlband it felt like a dirty word to us because we just wanted to be a band,' she said. 'We didn't want to have to be put into this box or that box.'
She concluded with a firm, if jovial, stance on the long-standing feud: 'I did have a major problem. I'll have beef until I die with them. I will.' Reflecting on the Spice Girls' instant fame, she reiterated, 'I genuinely had a problem with them, all the years of work we'd put in and then they just came out and blew up so quickly. And were obviously manufactured. The band was made for a purpose.'
All Saints, comprised of Melanie, Shaznay Lewis, and sisters Nicole and Natalie Appleton, were known for hits like Never Ever and Black Coffee. The group originally split in 2001 but reunited several times.
In contrast, the Spice Girls—Victoria Beckham, Geri Halliwell, Mel B, Emma Bunton, and Mel C—became a global phenomenon after their creation in 1994, famous for anthems including Wannabe and Spice Up Your Life.
The documentary also featured a retro clip of Oasis's Noel Gallagher, then 58, giving his characteristically blunt opinion on the Spice Girls, questioning their authenticity and marketing deals.
Girlbands Forever is available to watch on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
