When Five Become Three: The Spice Girls Break Up... Again

It was huge news when it first happened in 1998, and now, ten years later, the story repeats itself: again, the Spice Girls are hit by scandal, and again, the build-up of inside tensions (that was kept reasonably well hidden so far) proves to have a destructive (and disgraceful) effect on the band. After creating such a worldwide frenzy with their much-hyped reunion tour, the five girls announced that they were cutting their string of performances short, and will finish their tour in Toronto on February 26th - despite initial announcements and plans to take their show to Australia, Argentina, and China. And here comes the million dollar question: The reason for this decision? Well, that depends on who you ask - that is, whether you're after the "official" position or you simply want the truth.

And since I have a shrewed suspicion that you're after the truth first of all, here comes the shocker: inside reports unanimously claim that the tour was cut short because both Mel B and Mel C effectively quit after they refused to approve the new tour schedule. "Mel B wasn't having any of it. She misses her husband and children and said she couldn't go on. She's also been flooded with US offers after her success on Dancing With Stars", states an insider quoted by the Daily Mail. "Mel C agreed it was time to call it a day. She was the least excited about it. She also feared it might jeopardize her solo career". So, let me get this straight: after they created such a media frenzy, after all the excited statements that read "oh, we can't wait to go on tour", after cashing in on a huge amount of money from endorsement deals and publicity contracts... two of the girls decide that they miss their families and simply walk out on the tour. Yes, that's the definition of being classy and considerate...

I mean, there were many people around the world - former Spice fans or not - who regarded their reunion tour as a bit of a joke, and accused the five lovely ladies of being nothing more than a bunch of starved has-beens trying to make a comeback. But I would have thought that each and every one of the girls was mature enough to realistically sit down and judge whether she could really handle such a massive initiative - and since all five of them said "yes" to it, it was bound to come with a lot of responsibilities. I mean, come on, this isn't high school - you can't just turn around and walk out any time you please. Only that as far as these five are concerned, apparently you can.

"Sadly the tour needs to come to an end by the end of February due to family and personal commitments for Emma, Geri, Mel B, Melanie C and Victoria. It was announced in June that, as well as the Europe and the US, the girls planned to visit Australia, China, South Africa and Argentina. Due to the phenomenal demand for tickets in the UK and the US along with the touring logistics for such a massive production it was not possible to fit everything in. As the girls return to normal family life and the kids go back to school they are reviewing all the options. Who knows what the future might bring", reads an official statement released by one of the Girls' representatives. And while the girls go on and on about how they have had a great time being on tour so far, millions of fans around the world have to swallow their disappointment - without as many millions of dollars in their pockets. Tough luck, I presume...