The Dark Truth About The Spice Girls

It’s wild to think that more than 25 years ago, the Spice Girls were lighting up the charts with their catchy brand of girl power hits. The group changed the game for pop music forever, inspiring so many future female musicians and just generally bringing more joy to the scene.

However, that doesn’t mean the members of the group have always led carefree lives. From issues at the start of their careers to fights, controversies, and other dramas along the way, they’ve faced many struggles in their lives, leading to the dark truth about the Spice Girls.

Emma Bunton was a replacement for Michelle Stephenson in the original lineup

Whether you know them by their real names or their nicknames, the chances are you’re familiar with the members of the Spice Girls. However, that doesn’t mean all five of them were part of the group from the start. Emma Bunton - or Baby Spice - was actually a late addition, joining the other four members while they were called Touch.

Bunton wasn't simply joining a quartet, though, instead being brought in to replace a member who’d allegedly been fired. Michelle Stephenson used to be the fifth member of the group, with stories differing regarding why she was dropped. Although Stephenson says she left of her own accord, Victoria Beckham apparently claimed she couldn’t be bothered putting in the work.

They were criticized as bad songwriters during the early days

When the Spice Girls started, they were a group of young women living in a house in Maidenhead who spent their days working on demos and choreographing their own routines. Unfortunately, it seems that people were somewhat underwhelmed by what they had to offer. Erwin Keiles was apparently particularly unimpressed during a showcase in the early days.

They’d apparently added a rap section to a song written by Keiles and John Thirkell, long-time associates of their management company’s founder. However, Erwin was far from blown away by their writing efforts, reportedly claiming that they needed to learn to write songs properly. This resulted in the Spice Girls receiving professional lessons and eventually managing to hone their craft.

Victoria Beckham allegedly didn’t help to write ‘Wannabe because of her ex-boyfriend

The Spice Girls might have been criticized for their songwriting skills during the early days. However, they ended up having a co-writing credit on all the tracks they released as a group. Of course, not every member was involved in penning every song. For instance, Victoria Beckham wasn’t present when they wrote ‘Wannabe,’ and the reason why is pretty devastating.

Allegedly, she missed the writing session because of the man she was dating at the time, who supposedly mistreated the superstar. This was before she met David Beckham and became one-half of the world’s biggest power couples. Fortunately, Victoria reportedly broke up with the man after the relationship got in the way of her career.

The group left Heart Management and took their master recordings with them

It was Heart Management who helped to bring the Spice Girls together in the first place. However, that doesn’t mean the group necessarily enjoyed working with them. Allegedly, the women were frustrated by the direction that the management team was taking things in. So, they decided to jump ship in March 1995 after a successful showcase performance several months earlier.

Apparently, when they left Heart Management, they took their master recordings with them. Tim Hawes claims that Geri Halliwell tricked him into giving them up because she said they needed them for rehearsals. Once the group had the recordings, they never saw Heart Management again. Luckily, Simon Fuller - their new manager - allegedly paid for them to avoid any legal trouble.

Simon Cowell turned down the opportunity to work with the Spice Girls

Leaving Heart Management and signing with Simon Fuller proved to be a positive step forward for the Spice Girls. However, Fuller allegedly wasn’t the only one on their radar. Apparently, the group was interested in being signed by Simon Cowell and approached him with an impromptu audition in a parking lot one day. It didn’t go down well.

According to Mel B, Cowell said that the group was “not going to work” and turned them down. Evidently, it was his loss, and he admitted to Jay Leno years later that it was probably his “biggest mistake.” Mel C also confessed that it was probably for the best, as they might have been “a little too outspoken for him.”

The nicknames for the Spice Girls actually came from a “lazy journalist”

Nowadays, we think of them as Emma, Geri, Mel B, Mel C, and Victoria. However, during the ‘90s, it was much more common to refer to them as Baby, Ginger, Scary, Sporty, and Posh. The branding helped propel the group into the stratosphere, but did you know that the nicknames weren’t actually their idea first?

It’s only because of someone that Mel B labeled a “lazy journalist” that these nicknames became a part of the Spice Girls brand. When the group heard them, they apparently felt that the names sort of worked, and none of them hated what they’d been given. So, they decided to roll with it and look at what happened.

The Spice Girls pushed for Wannabe to be the lead single

The Spice Girls might not have originally been together for a super long time. However, during their years as a five-piece, they produced hit after hit. In fact, almost all of their singles topped the charts in their native UK. However, while their back catalog might be full of hits, it’s ‘Wannabe’ that always stands out as their biggest song.

It was an incredible debut single, although there was a time when something else nearly took its place. The label was apparently “nervous” about releasing this first and wanted to go with ‘Say You’ll Be There’ instead. Luckily, the group told the label what they wanted - what they really, really wanted - and made sure their careers started with a zig-a-zig-ah.

The Wannabe video ended up being banned in some parts of the world

The Spice Girls were right to push Wannabe as the lead single. It topped the chart in dozens of countries, including in the US, where it became their only song to do so. Considered to be one of the most recognizable songs in modern music history, it couldn’t have really given the group a better start.

However, it wasn’t without its troubles. Apparently, the music video for the single was actually banned in parts of Southeast Asia because it was considered a little too racy. That might seem strange to American viewers, but it was apparently down to the wardrobe not hiding parts of their chests effectively. Well, it was cold when they filmed the video.

People didn’t believe they would be big because of their gender

For someone nowadays to claim that the Spice Girls weren’t a big deal back in the day would be a huge joke. However, when the group was still making music, there were plenty of people who weren’t buying what they were selling. It seems that a lot of critics didn’t believe in girl power and what these women could achieve.

“Girl bands don’t sell records” is what the group was apparently told back then. That’s according to Melanie C, who spoke about the situation in a ‘Table Manners’ podcast. She said they were put down and told they couldn’t be on the front cover of magazines because “girls buy records by boys.” Thankfully, the five-piece proved their doubters wrong.

They became overworked when they took on a film project alongside new music

With the world succumbing to Spice Fever in the late-’90s, the group and their team were eager to capitalize on the success. This led to them making their own film, with the project apparently attracting the attention of many celebrities who wanted to appear in it. The movie had the potential to advance their success even further.

Unfortunately, the plan was to use songs from their sophomore album in the movie. However, no tracks had been written when it came time to film. So, the group faced a grueling schedule where they had to write and record new music alongside filming their scenes. Being overworked apparently provided the inspiration for one of their singles, ‘Stop.’

Spice World was apparently dubbed the worst film ever made in Britain

Despite feeling overworked, the Spice Girls managed to finish everything that was on their plate, from the movie to their sophomore album. However, it seems their efforts weren’t greatly appreciated, at least when it came to the film. The musical comedy ‘Spice World’ was largely panned by critics, who said the incohesive plot would only appeal to young viewers.

The movie's score on Rotten Tomatoes is just 35%, and it was previously voted by the British public as the worst film ever made, according to the Telegraph. Fortunately, some critics who have rewatched it more recently have looked at it with a more positive perspective. However, that doesn’t change the backlash it received when it debuted in the ‘90s.

Some people began to turn against the Spice Girls because of overexposure

This negative response to ‘Spice World’ wasn’t exactly ideal, especially with the criticism the group received around their second album. Although the release itself received largely positive reviews and spawned further hits, some people were seemingly growing tired of the Spice Girls already. There were reportedly accusations of overexposure, particularly in Britain, where they were seemingly everywhere.

Having over 20 sponsorship deals certainly didn’t help with this, as people felt like they couldn’t escape the girl group wherever they went. Although things weren’t as bad overseas, there was still some criticism in the US. As their debut album was released late in the States, there were only nine months between this and the follow-up.

1997 was the year people saw a lot more of Geri Halliwell

The disappointing reception to ‘Spice World’ and accusations of overexposure meant that 1997 might not have been the best year for the group. However, it was also then that they made pop culture history, thanks to Geri Halliwell’s Union Jack dress. She performed in the outfit at the 1997 Brit Awards, and the look hasn’t been forgotten since.

Unfortunately, this was also the ceremony where Geri had a bit of a wardrobe malfunction and may have slipped out of her dress a couple of times. Combined with the later release of glamor shots that Halliwell had done earlier in her career, it didn’t necessarily do wonderful things for the group’s reputation. Still, they never let it show.

They fired their management near the end of 1997

As if the group didn’t have enough going on in 1997, they also decided it was time to part ways with their management and go it alone that year. Apparently, they made the break on the morning of the 1997 MTV Music Awards, deciding they were tired of being overworked by their management after a grueling year.

According to Mel C, Geri allegedly stole a Filofax personal organizer that contained things like their schedule and various business contracts. They were hopeful about what they could achieve by themselves, although others didn’t agree. Some speculated that they would struggle without Fuller there to give them direction, believing he had been the true mastermind of the group.

Geri reportedly left the group on Melanie B’s birthday

In some ways, the doubters were right. After all, it was only half a year later that the group was hit by disaster when one of their own decided to quit. Geri shook millions of fans with her decision, one that came just a few years after the Spice Girls’ debut. People weren’t sure what that meant for the group.

To make matters worse, she couldn’t have timed her departure worse, with Mel B confessing to Larry King that Geri “left on my birthday.” They were in the midst of a tour, and she supposedly abandoned the girls without telling anyone. Eventually, a confirmation came several days later, with her solicitor announcing Halliwell’s departure on May 31, 1998.

The group reportedly felt bitter and betrayed by Geri’s decision

Despite what the world had thrown at them those last few years, the Spice Girls handled everything as a team. So, for one of their own to suddenly leave them behind must have hit pretty hard. The four-piece were adamant about sticking together in the aftermath, though, not wanting Geri’s departure to end the group before its time.

Eventually, they got over it and reconnected with Geri. However, at the time, the women were hurt by their friend’s sudden exit. Mel B told Larry King that she was bitter about the situation for a long time, while Victoria wrote that she felt “anger at the selfishness of it all, then betrayal.” They needed time to heal.

Geri’s departure got the group entangled in a lawsuit with Aprilia

Not only did Geri’s sudden departure leave them “totally in the lurch,” as Victoria wrote, but it also got them into some legal trouble. According to the BBC, the Spice Girls were actually sued by Aprilia, an Italian vehicle company, because her exit resulted in over “£1.6 million [approximately $1.95 million] in lost profits.”

They’d reportedly signed an agreement with the company weeks prior, which helped Aprilia to win the lawsuit against the group. Combined with the legal costs, the Spice Girls apparently ended up losing close to £1 million (approximately $1.2 million), which just made the loss of Geri even worse. It’s no wonder they weren’t all quick to forgive and forget.

Their album without Geri did not set the world on fire

Even though the Spice Girls promised to stick together after Geri’s departure, most of them had already released solo music by 1999. They did eventually return to the recording studio later that year, though, with the group going on to release a new album - ‘Forever’ - in November 2000. However, it was not the big hit fans had been waiting for.

Only reaching 39 on the Billboard 200, it suggested to the world that Spice Fever was on the way out. The group seemingly picked up on that, as by December, they stopped promoting the album and parted ways. However, they insisted they weren’t splitting up for good and were simply going on hiatus to focus on their solo careers.

Being in the Spice Girls led Geri to develop eating disorders

It’s difficult to say whether the Spice Girls would have lasted longer if Geri hadn’t left when she did. However, while her exit might not have been particularly well-timed, there was no world in which she could have stuck around longer. It turns out that being in the group had a terrible effect on the singer’s mental wellbeing.

According to Mel B’s Larry King interview, Geri “had a lot of bad eating disorders” and “pressure problems” that became too overwhelming. Geri herself admitted to Oprah that she “felt much more conscious of myself, my body weight” and used eating and dieting as a way to cope with stress. It got to the point where it became very “dangerous.”

Victoria blames Geri for her struggles with anorexia

It wasn’t working with the other Spice Girls that caused Geri to have problems. Instead, it was the pressure she faced in the media spotlight. This was something everyone in the group could relate to, with some following a similar path to Halliwell. That included Victoria Beckham, who spoke about her body image struggles in her autobiography ‘Learning to Fly.’

Unfortunately, it seems that some of the trouble she faced back then may have been influenced by the difficulties her bandmates were going through. She wrote that it was “basically Geri’s fault I became anorexic” because of how often she’d tell her to prioritize low-fat items or try not to eat as much. It wasn’t the best advice.

Being in the Spice Girls made Victoria Beckham deeply unhappy at times

Victoria Beckham will always be grateful for how the Spice Girls changed her life. She might not be married to her husband and making waves in the fashion industry if the group hadn’t given her so much publicity. However, for all her gratitude, Victoria can’t deny that her time with the Spice Girls wasn’t always a happy one.

She apparently didn’t take to playing a character as easily as some of the others did, with her role as Posh Spice proving to be a lot of pressure. When the group ended up reuniting in the late 2000s, she said it really hit home because she “just wanted to be elsewhere” and couldn’t enjoy herself like everyone else.

Mel C was another member who struggled with eating disorders

The unfortunate truth is that Geri and Victoria aren’t the only ones who have opened up about facing an eating disorder while in the Spice Girls. Mel C has also talked about her troubles with this, with the pressure of being ‘the sporty one’ definitely not helping. People expected her to always be in excellent shape.

Combine that with the fact that she was working long hours, wasn’t home that much, and was dealing with so many people’s opinions of her, it’s no wonder she struggled. Apparently, Melanie would turn to food for “comfort” to deal with the stress this all caused. However, on the flip side, she would also avoid it and consequently became anorexic.

Sporty Spice’s eating disorders stemmed from a remark about her thighs

Considering what she dealt with in the spotlight - and the fact she was in her early 20s - it’s no wonder that Mel C faced such difficulties. However, it’s possible that things might have been different if it weren’t for one comment in particular. It seems everything started going downhill when one of the group’s financial backers commented on her thighs.

She admitted on ‘The Diary of a CEO’ podcast that she’d been around eating disorders at dance college but hadn’t been affected by them personally until that remark. Melanie confessed that it “shook” her and led to her thinking more about what she was eating and how often she was exercising. It became incredibly unhealthy.

Mel C was apparently assaulted during a massage before a Spice Girls gig

It’s wonderful to see that Mel C has managed to come out the other side of her eating disorders and continues to love performing despite the stress of the spotlight. What she faced in the group could have easily put her off for life, especially with what went down before the Spice Girls’ first gig in Turkey.

Melanie told the podcast ‘How To Fail’ that she’d gone for a massage at her hotel, and the male masseur assaulted her. She said that she felt “vulnerable,” “embarrassed,” and “violated” after the incident but that she “didn’t have the time to deal with it.” So, Mel buried it for years until she started working on her biography.

Depression was also something that Mel C dealt with in the group

Seeing how much Mel C went through, it’s maybe no surprise that being in the Spice Girls took a toll on the singer’s mental health. The pressure of trying to be at her best, combined with the attitudes and behaviors of those outside of the group, reportedly left her depressed. It seems that things got pretty serious, too.

According to Melanie, when she was at her lowest, she felt “so teary” and “hopeless.” Even though she was in the biggest girl group in the world and achieving so many dreams, she “wasn’t excited about anything.” Thankfully, Mel didn’t suffer in silence forever and sought help to deal with her depression before things spiraled out of control.

A fight with Victoria nearly got Mel C kicked out of the group

Something that reportedly didn’t help Mel C’s mental state was the fact that she nearly got kicked out of the group at one point. We know that the women had strong bonds with one another, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t fall out at times, like when Sporty Spice told Posh “where to go.” This was apparently after several drinks.

Melanie recited the incident to People magazine, explaining the incident got her into “lots of trouble,” even though it happened in private. She was reportedly told she “would be out” if it happened again, leaving the singer terrified that she could lose everything at a moment’s notice. The singer admitted this resulted in her becoming freaked out about losing control.

Mel C and Mel B had a heated argument that got violent

Although the incident with Victoria may have made Mel C afraid for her future in the group, that doesn’t mean she never got into any other fights. The singer previously admitted that she and Mel B once got into it, with the pair arguing after drinking a little too much. Apparently, things got “a bit pushy, shovey” between them.

To try and calm things down, Geri reportedly got in between the two women. However, all this did was earn her a punch in the face. Thankfully, fights like this were never usually anything serious, with Mel B assuring that things between them were fine afterward. She said that they “have unconditional love for each other underneath it all.”

Sporty Spice’s attempts at proving her athletic ability left her badly injured

With a nickname like Sporty Spice, Mel C can never shy away from a physical challenge. She certainly lived up to her name when she appeared on the reality show ‘Dancing with the Stars’ in 2021, pulling in some strong scores before an untimely departure. At least the singer avoided injury this time, unlike during a previous physical challenge.

Melanie once took on Miss World 2002 winner Azra Akin in a judo match for the British reality sports game show ‘The Games.’ Unfortunately, she was forced to withdraw from the competition after she sustained a serious knee injury, having to be carted off on a stretcher. According to Mel’s personal trainer, this had “long-term ramifications” for the singer.

Mel B once fell down the stairs and required three hours of surgery

At least Mel C can take solace in the knowledge that she’s not the only Spice Girl to have seriously hurt herself over the years. Years later, Mel B found herself rushed to hospital after she allegedly fell down a flight of stairs. This was supposedly the result of her losing her footing on a narrow staircase.

Due to the fall, Melanie apparently required three hours of surgery, but the outcome was a positive one. Not only did the singer recover in good time, but three of the Spice Girls showed up at the hospital to shower her with love and support. Victoria Beckham was the only one who didn’t make it.

Elton John might be to blame for Victoria not reuniting with the group

Despite some people losing interest in the Spice Girls back in the day, millions were still devastated when the group parted ways. Thankfully, they’ve reunited several times over the years, albeit usually with one person missing. Although Geri was the one to jump ship in the ‘90s, it’s Victoria who’s kept her distance more recently.

This is because fashion has always been more of a passion for Beckham than singing. It’s also because Elton John apparently put her off performing again. She said she watched him perform and saw how much he still enjoyed himself after so many years on the stage. She couldn’t relate to that and so realized the reunions weren’t for her.

Posh’s refusal to reunite with the Spice Girls upset the other members

It’s understandable why Victoria hasn’t wanted to get back on stage again. Unlike the rest of the group, music hasn’t played that important a role in her life since the early 2000s. Still, that doesn’t mean the other women weren’t upset about having to reunite as a four-piece. Mel B confessed that the rejection upset her.

In another incident, Geri posted a picture on social media that had Victoria cropped out, and not in the most effective way. This led people to question if she’d done it on purpose in frustration at the fashion icon’s refusal to return. At least the rest of the group have still been behind reuniting from time to time.

Mel B revealed that she and Geri had apparently once been intimate

All sorts of rumors have emerged about the Spice Girls over the years. Of course, when it hasn’t come out of the mouths of one of the singers themselves, such stories can be hard to believe. The women have admitted to some surprising things in the past, though, like when Mel B opened up about being intimate with Geri.

She told Piers Morgan that the two of them had an encounter during the early days of the Spice Girls that they’d never really talked about since. Mel C, who was in the audience when the singer gave the interview, claimed ignorance of the whole thing. Scary Spice stated that their intimate night together was “a fact,” though.

Geri completely denied Mel B’s version of events regarding their intimate encounter

When Mel B opened up about the supposed encounter with Geri, she admitted that the other woman probably wasn’t going to be happy about it. It seems she was right, with a rep for Halliwell stating that it was “very disappointing to read about all these rumors.” Apparently, the story had been “very hurtful to her family.”

With Mel B and Geri claiming two different stories, it’s hard to know who to believe. The latter did admit to Howard Stern in 2003, though, that she had been intimate with a woman once. Geri never named the other person but did say they were famous, so it’s possible that she might have been talking about Melanie.

Mel B and Geri used to have a very intense relationship

Only Mel B and Geri know what the truth of this whole situation is. Regardless of whether they were intimate together or not, though, there’s no denying that the two had quite the relationship during the Spice Girls days. In her 2002 memoir, Geri said that they were “always getting into trouble together” and acted like “two Tasmanian devils.”

She also admitted that the pair of them sometimes acted “like boyfriend and girlfriend,” with their arguments being incredibly heated. Geri wrote that they would get “irritated over the slightest things” and fight so intensely that “you’d have thought she’d cheated with my boyfriend or something.” Still, through all the fighting, there was also so much love.

Geri reportedly once patted King Charles III on the behind

The Spice Girls were known for being a bit more on the wild side. However, some of them were a bit more restrained than others, with Geri perhaps being the one who behaved more out of control than everyone else. There was no one she wasn’t willing to mess with, including British royalty like King Charles III.

The Royal was present for the premiere of ‘Spice World,’ and reports emerged that Geri had pinched the man’s behind that night. However, the singer later told the Times that it was actually just a “pat” rather than a pinch. It was still against royal protocol, but it wasn’t quite as serious as what the stories had said.

Emma Bunton asked the King if he owned any intimate jewelry

The Spice Girls met with the King - then just the heir to the throne - several times during their heyday, and it seems Geri wasn’t the only one who was inappropriate with him. Apparently, they were invited to the man’s 50th birthday party, where Emma Bunton decided to ask the Royal an inappropriate question that he didn’t understand.

She reportedly wanted to know if he had a Prince Albert, which Charles misconstrued and consequently replied, “I’m his great-great-grandson, yes.” It was only when British actor and comedian Stephen Fry explained she was asking about a piece of “intimate jewelry” that he understood. He allegedly responded that he “had to have a lie down” after the revelation.

Mel B once stole toilet paper and pebbles from Nelson Mandela’s home

Being such a global phenomenon, the Spice Girls got to meet so many incredible people during their time in the group. That includes Nelson Mandela, who the five-piece met following a charity concert in Johannesburg organized by Nation’s Trust. They apparently went to the South African leader’s place of residence afterward, where they enjoyed a photo op with Mandela.

He was highly complimentary of the women, calling them his “heroes” and saying that the meeting was “one of the greatest moments of my life.” However, that didn’t stop Mel B from allegedly stealing some toilet paper and pebbles from a plant pot in his home. Luckily, when she confessed what she’d done, the man apparently laughed.

Several of the singers reportedly used to streak in hotels

Evidently, the Spice Girls got up to some wild antics during their heyday. However, perhaps one of the craziest things they ever did was go streaking through hotels. Rumors of them doing this in hotel lobbies were prominent at the start of their fame, with Emma apparently coming clean about the situation in a Rolling Stone interview.

She admitted that none of them had ever done it in a hotel lobby but that three of them - including Emma - had streaked in hotels before. She admitted that it was a “good laugh,” and it let them “Feel a bit free.” Given that the rumors of them doing this made the rounds, does that mean someone once caught them?

Emma had to deal with an endometriosis diagnosis in her 20s

We can understand Emma wanting to let loose and enjoy a bit of freedom, given some of the struggles she faced. The singer was diagnosed with endometriosis in her 20s, with this condition posing some serious complications. Along with potentially causing a lot of pain, it can prevent a woman from being able to conceive and have children.

While Emma might have been focused on her career at the time, she did have dreams of starting a family. So, the news hit her hard, with Baby Spice admitting that the diagnosis “nearly broke me.” Thankfully, she stayed optimistic and managed to have a child five years later, with another coming along four years after that.

The group’s musical Viva Forever! was far from a hit show

We’ve seen how successful musicals like ‘Mamma Mia!’ have been in turning an artist’s discography into a show. So, when the Spice Girls wanted to do the same with their own music, people were optimistic. Written by beloved British comedian Jennifer Saunders and featuring many of the group’s hits, there was reason to be hopeful about ‘Viva Forever!’

Unfortunately, things didn’t go to plan at all. After its release in 2012, it was panned by critics and became one of the year’s worst-reviewed shows. Just months later, it closed on the West End for good, leading to a loss of at least £5 million (approximately $6.1 million). It’s a disappointment the group probably wants to forget.