Mel B publicly wished her Spice Girls bandmate Geri Halliwell a happy birthday, a move that follows reports of Halliwell blocking Brown on social media. The birthday message, shared on Instagram on Thursday, featured throwback photos of the two singers with a heart emoji and the caption, "Happy Birthday to my SPICE SISTER @gerihalliwellhorner." The interaction has fueled speculation among fans about the current state of their relationship.
This apparent thawing of tensions occurs just a month after the 30th anniversary of the Spice Girls' debut single, "Wannabe." During the anniversary commemorations, fans noted that Halliwell did not tag Mel B in an Instagram post celebrating the milestone, which was interpreted as a sign of a rift. While Halliwell's post mentioned her "beautiful spice sisters" and the enduring nature of their friendship, the omission of Mel B's tag led to claims that she had been blocked.
Historical Tensions Within the Group
The relationship between Mel B and Geri Halliwell has seen notable friction in the past. The singers reportedly fell out in 2019 when Mel B disclosed in a television interview that she and Halliwell had a sexual encounter during the height of the Spice Girls' fame in the 1990s. Sources close to Halliwell at the time indicated she was "livid" with the revelation, and she subsequently issued a statement denying the claims.
Further rifts have been attributed to Halliwell's departure from the group in May 1998, during the middle of their world tour. Mel B has previously described the event as particularly hurtful, noting that Halliwell left on her birthday without prior notification. Other reported disagreements have involved Halliwell's public image and, more recently, Mel B's jokes about Halliwell's age, including a social media post wishing her a "Happy 75th Birthday" when Halliwell turned 52.
Despite these past conflicts, the Spice Girls have had moments of reunion. The band members gathered for Victoria Beckham's 50th birthday celebration in 2024. However, reports suggested underlying tension between Halliwell and Mel B even then. Halliwell was also notably absent, along with Victoria Beckham, from Mel B's 50th birthday party in May 2025. Mel C has commented on the impact of Halliwell and Mel B's disagreements, noting that when they had a fallout, it affected the entire group.
The group's dynamics were further highlighted when Emma Bunton was the only Spice Girl to attend Mel B's wedding to Rory McPhee in July. While Victoria Beckham and Mel C offered apologies for their absences, Geri Halliwell remained silent on the matter. Mel C also noted that Halliwell's choice to wear white, her signature color, to her own wedding raised eyebrows, though Mel B stated they had a lighthearted chat about it.