Girl Power goes pop!

16 February 2008

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Despite the girls releasing a video explaining their reasons for finishing early, loyal fans wanted answers as to why they can no longer work with each other.

The main culprit behind the split seems to be Victoria, the group's most famous, and arguably, most powerful member.

Married to soccer star David and mother of their three young boys - Brooklyn, eight, Romeo, five, and two-year-old Cruz - Victoria is the only Spice Girl to be enjoying a higher profile now than she did in the group's heyday.

Although she didn't enjoy success as a solo singer, the 33-year-old has become a sought-after fashion designer and she has admitted herself that couture is her main priority, not being a Spice Girl.

She said: "The reason I decided to do the tour was to show my kids that mummy was once a pop star. I'm not in the music industry any more. I'm in the fashion industry. I'm putting together a team of people now so it will be my main project when I finish this tour in a month."

But it was Victoria's boasting about her supportive, gorgeous husband that caused tension within the band, especially with single mother Geri.

A source claimed: "The other girls turned to their partners during the emotional and exhausting tour but Geri had nobody. She felt Victoria was really insensitive to her isolation. She makes sarcastic comments under her breath to wind Geri up, so it looks like Geri is being unreasonable.

"Victoria is also constantly going on about David and how lucky she is to have such a great partner, unlike Geri who is a single mother."

The girls were also said to be furious about Victoria receiving special cheers from the crowds whenever she sang.

An insider said: "When Victoria kept getting the loudest applause and cheers, it really grated on the others. The fact Posh probably had the least to do but was getting the best reception was a bit disheartening. It all blew up backstage afterwards and there were some very stern words and evil looks exchanged."

Victoria's isolation from the rest of the band was further confirmed last weekend after she was the only one not to go and watch Mel C's solo performance at a New York venue.

All the other girls whooped and cheered as Sporty sang some of her hit songs, and despite Victoria being in the city and going to many New York Fashion Week events, she was nowhere to be seen.

However, Victoria is not the only one getting the blame for the split.

Geri - who has only just been forgiven by her bandmates for sensationally quitting the group during their 1998 world tour - reportedly told the girls she was fed-up with life on the road and didn't want to extend the tour to Australia and Asia, sparking a huge row.

A source said: "Victoria and Mel B asked Geri to think about the fans. They said it's the last time they can perform like this, before they get too old. But Geri was having none of it and stormed out of her dressing room.

"The girls have no idea how they're going to perform together after this latest bust-up. Things between them are very tense indeed."

Sources also claim Geri - who is mother to 20-month-old daughter Bluebell - only wanted to do the tour until she had made enough money for her little girl's future.

However, when it was first revealed the tour was finishing it was the two Mels who shouldered the initial blame, amid rumours they wanted to call it a day.

A source said: "Mel B wasn't having any of it. She misses her husband and her two children and said she couldn't go on. Mel C agreed it was time to call it off. She was the least excited about the tour. She also feared it might jeopardise her solo career.

"The others wanted to go on, but couldn't persuade the Mels. Without them, there was no point."

However, Mel C recently released a statement saying she did not instigate the decision to cut the tour short.

It read: "Melanie would like to make it perfectly clear that at no point has she refused to continue with the Spice Girls Tour.

"She is disappointed that the tour isn't continuing at this stage."

The only member seemingly not to have had a part in the band's downfall is Emma.

Although she only gave birth to her son Beau six months ago, Baby has been happy to do what's best for the band, even if that meant taking her little boy on yet more long-haul flights.

However, she now finds herself in the midst of the arguments between the band and things have got so bad between them all, they are now staying in separate hotels as they embark on their final leg.

A source said: "They usually stay in the same hotel, but that's changed. What was meant to be a chance to get together, have fun and make cash has become a nightmare.

"The only time they get together is for sound checks and the concerts. They lead separate lives. The tension has been bubbling under the surface for some time."

When they embarked on their reunion tour, the girls claimed it was to put on a fantastic show for their ever-supportive fans.

They also wanted to say a proper and final goodbye, something they were denied the first time round as the group dissolved away without there ever being an announcement of a split.

One thing they were adamant about was they were not doing the tour for the money, claiming it was something that hadn't even entered their minds.

However, as they leave thousands of heartbroken and disappointed fans in their wake, the girls have pocketed at least £10 million each, but at what cost?

By Kate Randall