Back in the 1990s, it’s no secret that the Spice Girls were a force to be reckoned with. As soon as “Wannabe” came out in 1996, they became instant pop culture icons, wearing effortlessly cool but kitschy clothes. They would go on to release their own movie and a whole line of merch that’s now coveted on eBay. And we can’t forget that this time was the beginning of Posh and David Beckham, who is still one of the most famous celebrity couples in the world. At the time, they were spreading a message of girl power, which was rare in the very problematic ‘90s. But as wholesome as they appeared, it wasn’t all sunshine and roses with the Spice Girls. Here are all the sketchy things we ignore about them. 

Ginger Spice gaslighting Scary Spice

There used to be a rumor that Scary Spice and Ginger Spice (otherwise known as Geri Halliwell and Mel B) had a fling back in the day! Halliwell admitted that it was true in a 2003 interview with Howards Stern, but she kept the woman anonymous. Years later, she confirmed it and said that Geri would hate it since she lives in a posh country house with her husband, but that it was a one-time thing and made them giggle. Halliwell vehemently denied this news, but many believe that she actually gaslighted Mel B. Others thought Halliwell calling the news “hurtful” was an anti-LGBTQ+ comment. 

There are some problematic Spice Girls Lyrics

Many Spice Girl lyrics are a classic, but some do contain antiquated racism. In the song “Spice Up Your Life” there are shocking comments in the second verse including a reference to a “Yellow man in Timbuktu,” “kung fu fighting,” and a “tribal spaceman.” Although it was intended to celebrate diversity, it clearly did the opposite and comes off as tone-deaf in 2023. Ever since various members of the band have expressed regret, and Melanie C said in 2018 that she wanted to change the lyric in anticipation of the reunion tour.