Mel C details clash with Victoria Beckham at BRIT Awards in 1996

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Melanie Chisholm, known as Mel C or Sporty Spice, announced on Monday that she would not be performing in Poland this weekend. The musician has seemingly pulled the plug due to Poland’s attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community, but the move has stirred widespread controversy in her diverse fanbase.

Sporty Spice was set to take the stage as part of a New Year’s Eve event, reportedly sponsored by Polish state broadcaster TVP.

However, on Monday she shared a statement on social media saying: “In light of some issues that have been brought to my attention, that do not align with the communities I support, I’m afraid I will no longer be able to perform in Poland as planned on New Year’s Eve.

“I hope to be back there very soon.

“Hope you’re all having a wonderful Christmas and best wishes for 2023. Melanie xxx.”

Many fans assumed this message pertained to Poland’s lacking LGBTQ rights protections.

However, controversy soon stirred as fans discovered a clip of Mel C performing in Russia in 2018.

One fan wrote in Polish, translated to English: “Melanie C in a country that does not ‘contradict her views’ – Russia.”

Others argued: “Not fair on the non-homophobic Polish people fighting for equality though. Why not go and help them?”

Some slammed the musician, writing that following her recent comments she is “not welcome” in Poland regardless and that they would “invite Geri instead”, referring to her former Spice Girls bandmate Geri Horner.

One follower pointed out the tricky situation Mel C finds herself in, much like the performers who appeared in Qatar for the controversial World Cup earlier this month.

They wrote: “If she didn’t cancel it she’d get trolled and now she has cancelled people are still moaning!”

Some fans branded Mel a “hero” and thanked her for pulling out of the event.

One even claimed: “Your performance would be used for propaganda and misread as support for our anti-democratic government, so it’s the right choice.”

The Spice Girl has been an outspoken advocate for the community for decades.

She previously performed at Brighton Pride in 2019, holding a pink, white and blue striped flag aloft.

She said on stage: “I’ve been proudly holding the Pride flag everywhere I go, very proudly.

“But tonight, I’ve been given by one of my dancers, this very special flag, and I’m going to be holding this tonight when I sing my next song.

“This is a flag that we don’t see often enough. This is a flag we want to see a lot more of. This is for trans and non-binary [people].”

The performer has previously noted she is straight, but revealed she was often told she was lesbian at the start of her Spice Girls fame.

Speaking to Closer magazine, the musician shared: “I’ve had lesbians say to me, ‘You are a lesbian’ and I’m like ‘I’m so confused, I don’t think I am, but maybe I am?’ I don’t give it much thought.

“I really don’t mind being called a lesbian. There have been times in my life where I’ve thought, ‘I wish I was a lesbian’.”

Express.co.uk has contacted Mel C’s representatives for comment. 

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