When all your old friends – not to mention the entire global population – keep asking you to do something, it must be tough to say no. But Victoria Beckham seems to be used to it after so many years.
The designer’s told friends she’s under pressure yet again to revisit her Posh Spice days, as her old bandmates make plans to resurrect the Spice Girls for another reunion tour. And apparently the subject is causing furious rows.
“Vic is so fed up with having this conversation over and over,” says an insider close to the 47-year-old mum of four, who refused to join the Spice World 2019 Tour, stating publicly that she had moved on from that part of her life.
“She has been asked again and again – by the band and by the public – to do it, but there’s no way she’ll do a tour. She’s got a whole different life now and wants to focus on her family, and her fashion and personal brands. No means no, and it’s infuriating to see these rumours claiming she might come back.”
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Last week, the news broke that Geri Horner, Mel B, Mel C and Emma Bunton have been in “top-secret talks” about doing another world tour in 2023.
Geri, Emma and Mel B were seen meeting up at the Mandeville Hotel in London, with Sporty joining them via Zoom from LA.
Check out: ten big tensions behind the Spice Girls tour
10 big tensions behind the Spice Girls tour - slider
1 of 10Mel’s sex claims
Mel B, 43, sensationally revealed last week that she'd had a boozy night of passion with Geri, 46 – who is said to be furious with her, as her daughter Bluebell, 13, could read the story. A worried Mel C, 45, hinted the fallout could ruin the reunion, responding to Mel B's exposé by saying, "That's it then, the tour is off."
2 of 10Geri’s posh new life
Geri married F1 boss Christian Horner in 2015 and replaced the tongue-poking andpeace-signs with spiritualism sessionsand cookery classes. She has a society neighbour, Lady Joanna Wellesley, and a menagerie of goats and donkeys at her country manor. She also reportedly stopped a photo shoot with the Spices so she could meditate – and her new lifestyle is said to have irked Northern lass Mel B.
3 of 10Manager fallout
The Spices sacked old boss Simon Fuller in 1997, amid reports he'd had a relationship with Emma Bunton, 43 – which they both denied – but he's involved with the tour in partnership with Mel C's Modest Management agency. He's also responsible for Brand Beckham – which won't sit well with the girls if they reportedly continue to clash with Posh, 44.
4 of 10Post & Mel B's feud
Fans want a guest appearance fromPosh, but she doesn't get on with Mel B. Mel reportedly described Posh as "a bit of a bitch" in an interview last month, and allegedly told her to "f*** off" during a phone call last year. She then dressed up as her for Halloween. Posh also said the girls used to switch off her mic on-stage!
5 of 10Nerves over past humiliation
Their 2007 comeback single Headlines was a flop, limping into the charts at number 20, and they fear the same will happen with the tour. Emma suffered anxiety before tickets went on sale, while Geri is reportedly taking singing lessons to avoid embarrassment.
6 of 10Fury at Jess Glynne payout
Allegedly without the girls' say so, tour managers booked Jess Glynne as their support act, agreeing to a hefty £1.3million fee. The Spice Girls, who are rumoured to be pocketing £2.2m each, are said to be furious, suggesting tensions will rise in the dressing rooms. Jess, however, said she only agreed to the tour as she was such a massive Spice Girls fan and wanted to "hang out" with them.
7 of 10Wardrobe woes
Stage costumes are causing problems as the foursome struggle to agree whether their fans want to see them wearing their '90s outfits – think Union Jack dresses – or more grown-up attire. While Mel B is apparently "desperate to relaunch herself as an edgy, sexy star to compete with the likes of Rita Ora", Geri wants a more wholesome image to appeal to the older, original fans.
8 of 10Victoria is still cashing in
It's no secret that money is a big motivation for the tour. But Victoria will still make millions without stepping foot on stage, as she owns an equal stake in the band's brand. This has reportedly caused fury among the band members.
9 of 10A fifth spice?
The Girls are reportedly discussing having a "fifth Spice". Comedian Jack Whitehall and superfan Adele have offered their services, while The X Factor's Saara Aalto revealed Mel C told her she could join. But would that mean splitting their earnings even further?
10 of 10Old animosities
Although Emma is seen as the sweet one, she's no pushover. She may have forgiven Geri for quitting the band in 2003, but reveals that she won't stay quiet if the Girls squabble. "I was never afraid to say exactly what I thought. It's still the same now," she said recently.
A source claimed, “The four girls have been discussing a world tour for a while. They are all very excited that the wheels are nowi n motion.” And days later, Mel C declared her hopes that Victoria might perform with them, hinting that a Glastonbury invitation “could be the thing that would see all five girls onstage.” She then suggested fans “start a petition” to make it happen, piling even more pressure on VB.
Our insider adds, “It’s really upset Vic. She feels like she’s now going to hear about nothing else for the next two years. She even got asked about it on US telly recently, when she was meant to be promoting her beauty range.”
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We’re told Victoria had a few choice words for Geri, 49, Emma, 45, Mel C, 47, and Mel B, 46, and feels they are “using her name to drum up interest in another money-spinning tour”. But our source says, “The girls just want to give the fans the best tour possible and want Vic to be involved. The truth is, they do feel as though she is sticking two fingers up at them when she keeps turning down their offers. Of course, they all know she’s gone onto incredible success with her fashion business, but they feel that she needs to be more appreciative of the band that made her famous. They don’t see why performing with the Spice Girls should be considered beneath her.”
And despite the repeated nos, it seems Mel B is still hopeful. We’re told, “She still believes Vic might change her mind. After all, who knows where her fashion career will be in two years? She might decide she needs the money and be dying to return to the stage…”
We can but dream.
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H2 ‘Environmentalist’ Brooklyn’s big faux pas
Somewhere out there, Greta Thunberg is rolling her eyes at last week’s Brooklyn Beckham interview. The would-be environmentalist embarrassed himself – and basically everyone else – when he spoke out about sustainable, eco-friendly fashion, but then admitted he knew almost nothing about COP26, the recent headline-dominating summit in Glasgow discussing global action on climate change.
As the face of Superdry’s new sustainable collection, the 22 year old – who flew to the UK specially for the interview and turned up in his petrol-guzzling 4x4 – gave an impassioned speech about the environment. He said, “I try and do the little things.
I take a shorter shower, I’m good at recycling. If there is a choice to do the right thing for the planet, why would you not?” But when asked about COP26, Brooklyn, looked “blank” and said, “I have seen a bit of that, but not as much as I wanted to.”
Brooklyn is now based in the US with fiancée Nicola Peltz and her billionaire parents, but admitted that he misses the UK and will split his time between the two countries. He said, “It’s too hot for me in LA. I miss the weather here, frosty mornings are the best. And I miss British pubs, and food like my nana’s roast dinner.”
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