Mel B has admitted Geri Halliwell’s departure from the Spice Girls “shortened” their career plans.
The girl group – which also included Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton and Mel C – were left stunned when the ‘Look at Me’ hitmaker suddenly quit the band in 1998 at the height of their fame and the ‘X Factor’ judge says her shock decision meant they had to quickly rethink their future after laying out a long-term strategy when they first formed.
Speaking on a recent episode of ‘Larry King Live’, Mel said: “When Geri left the group, it was bad. She left on my birthday, and didn’t tell anybody… Just didn’t show up. We had the rest of the ['Spiceworld'] tour. The American part of the tour…
“We had a five-year plan that got shortened after three years.”
The 39-year-old singer and Geri felt bitterness “for a long time” and though she has now forgiven her friend for walking out on the group – which split in 2000 and briefly reformed for a tour in 2007 – she won’t let her forget.
She laughed:”I still remind her of it. Like, I saw her a couple weeks ago and I said, ‘Do you remember when you left on my birthday.’ ”
Mel believes Geri – who has admitted to suffering from eating disorder bulimia – struggled too much with the “pressure” of life in the chart-topping band.
She said: “She just felt the pressure too much, so just decided to take a break.”
The ‘Wannabe’ hitmaker also admitted she and her other bandmates regularly clashed.
She said: “We fought like cats and dogs.”
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