Emma Bunton Sets the Record Straight on Spice Girls and All Saints Rivalry
For decades, music fans have speculated about a bitter feud between two of Britain's most iconic 1990s girl groups, the Spice Girls and All Saints. The narrative suggested intense competition and mutual dislike as both groups dominated charts and captured global attention. However, in a recent interview, key members from both groups have definitively shut down these rumors, revealing a much friendlier reality.
"We Are Bessie Mates!"
Ahead of an appearance on Heart radio this week, Baby Spice Emma Bunton, 50, reunited with All Saints sisters Nicole and Natalie Appleton. During their conversation, all three women emphatically dismissed the persistent rumors of animosity between their groups. "Now I need to start off by saying we are mates," Emma declared, with both sisters immediately echoing, "We are mates!"
Emma elaborated, "We are bessie mates! And I think, only because someone just the other day said, 'Oh, I thought you and All Saints back in the 90s, you didn't get on'. We are mates! We went to school together!" Natalie Appleton jumped in to confirm, "We have always been mates! I mean, we've known you since we were eleven. And do you know what? I've always said you've always been exactly the same."
Nicole Appleton added that Emma "had not changed," while Natalie described her as the "sweetest, most beautiful, most loving person." This heartfelt exchange directly contradicts the widespread belief that the groups were rivals.
Legacy of Two Iconic Groups
The Spice Girls, formed in 1994 with members Mel B, Mel C, Geri Halliwell, Victoria Beckham, and Emma Bunton, became a global phenomenon. They sold over 100 million records worldwide, making them the best-selling girl group of all time before going on hiatus in 2000.
All Saints, formed in 1993, originally included Melanie Blatt, Shaznay Lewis, and Simone Rainford, with the Appleton sisters joining in 1996. Part of the 1990s British girl group wave, they achieved significant success, peaking at number two on the UK Albums Chart with their self-titled debut album. This album remains the UK's third best-selling girl group album of all time. The group split in 2001 due to internal conflicts but has since reformed twice.
Past Tensions and Controversial Stories
Despite the current camaraderie, both groups have experienced well-documented internal tensions. All Saints initially attributed their 2001 split to a need to "clear the air between themselves." Shaznay Lewis later revealed that a disagreement over a jacket for a photoshoot was the catalyst, stating, "I would never in a million years have put money on the group ending over a jacket incident. But when that incident happened, it fired up so strong, it had to be over."
Similarly, the Spice Girls faced turmoil when Geri Halliwell abruptly left the group. Mel B recalled, "When Geri left the group, it was so bad. She left on my birthday and didn't tell anybody. She just didn't show up." She added, "We fight, we argue, we make up...it's always been like that. It's been like that with all five of us over the years."
In a more controversial claim, Mel B once alleged a physical altercation with All Saints member Shaznay Lewis in 2016, saying she "tried to rip her weave off" during a confrontation. However, she noted there were no hard feelings afterward. Shaznay's representative strongly denied this story, calling it fabricated and expressing bafflement at why Mel B would make it up.
Setting the Record Straight
The recent statements from Emma Bunton and the Appleton sisters aim to correct the historical record. By emphasizing their long-standing friendship since childhood, they challenge the narrative of a bitter rivalry that has persisted for years. While both groups had their internal struggles, the idea of a feud between Spice Girls and All Saints appears to be more myth than reality, according to those directly involved.
This revelation adds a new layer to the legacy of 1990s pop music, highlighting that behind the scenes, relationships were often more complex and friendly than public perception suggested. As these iconic groups continue to be celebrated, their true dynamics come into clearer focus.
