Emma Bunton has brushed off rumours of a rift between the Spice Girls following Melanie Brown’s absence from rehearsals for their tour.
Brown did not join Bunton, Geri Horner and Melanie Chisholm for the first day of rehearsals on Monday, sparking speculation of a row between the group following Brown’s recent claims that she previously had a one-night stand with Horner.
As her co-stars joined forces in a dance studio in London, Brown posted a picture on Instagram of herself in a bikini, seemingly taken in Los Angeles, where she lives.
However, Bunton has said that Brown is currently rehearsing for the tour, but separately from the others due to previous commitments.
Bunton told ITV’s This Morning: “Me, Geri and Mel C were there. Mel B is rehearsing in LA because she’s still got commitments and her children, so she’s rehearsing there, which is really funny.
“She learns the same steps as us… we were doing a bit of FaceTiming.
“We’re doing the same rehearsals, but obviously she’s there. And then she comes over soon. I think she’s coming over in the next few weeks, and then we all work together.”
Fans had shared their concerns over Brown missing the Spice Girls’ first day in the studio together, with some airing their fears in the comments under Brown’s post.
One wrote: “Shouldn’t you be here rehearsing Mel not sunning it up?”
Another said: “Aren’t you supposed to be in rehearsal?”
Brown’s absence came after she said in an interview with Piers Morgan for his Life Stories programme last month that she and Horner had slept together at the height of the group’s fame – although Horner denies the claims.
Brown is said to have nodded when asked by the Good Morning Britain presenter: “Did you sleep with Geri?”
She is reported to have said: “(Geri) is going to hate me for this because she is all posh in her country house and her husband, but it’s a fact.
“It just happened and we just giggled at it and that was it. We were best friends. Have you ever done that?”
Pressed on how many times they had slept together, Brown said it had happened just once.
A statement from Horner’s representative, via the Daily Mail, said that she had been disappointed by Brown’s comments, and that “what has been reported is simply not true and has been very hurtful to her family”.
Brown, Horner, Bunton and Chisholm, will reunite as the Spice Girls for a stadium tour, which kicks off in May in Ireland, although Victoria Beckham is not taking part.