Mel B/Geri

Pairing
Pairing:	Mel B/Geri
Alternative name(s):	Meri, Scary/Ginger
Gender category:	femslash
Fandom:	Music RPF, Spice Girls
Canonical?:	yes (according to Mel B)
Prevalence:
Archives:
Other:
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Mel B/Geri, also known as Meri, is the femslash pairing of Mel B ("Scary Spice") and Geri Halliwell ("Ginger Spice") of the Spice Girls. It is the most popular pairing within the Spice Girls fandom.

The Mel B/Geri pairing has been subjected to a lot of tinhatting over the years. A significant portion of the Spice Girls fandom, even among those who do not ship Meri, believe that the two were romantically involved with one another in some fashion in the 1990s. Many fans further speculate that an acrimonious breakup was the real reason Geri left the Spice Girls in 1998. These fan theories were partly validated when Mel B confirmed in 2019 that she had had a fling with Geri in the 1990s.

History

"I don't think I should answer that!" Mel B in an interview with The Guardian. The Spice Girls' refusal to confirm or deny the Mel B/Geri rumors were seen by fans as de facto confirmation.

Rumors of a secret relationship between Mel B, who is openly bisexual, and Geri have long been circulated by both fans and the British media tabloids. Fans were initially drawn by the very close friendship the pair had when the Spice Girls launched in 1996. A rumored falling out between Mel B and Geri around the time that Geri left the Spice Girls in 1998 led to the popular fan theory that the two were romantically involved, and that a breakup instigated by Mel B was the real reason Geri left the group.

One Youtube video promoting this fan theory has over 2.5 million views and the description states:

Most of the reasons (or excuses) told by Geri herself don't match with those her colleagues, friends, and media have reported. And, one of the many theories and rumors there's one possible reason that might get your attention:

She left because of her and Mel B's relationship. A relationship that crossed the line of bandmates and best friends.

But you believe who you want to believe.
One thing is for sure, we'll never know the real reason.

Another fan commented on The L Chat:

I've read variations of the Mel B Geri story on internet forums over the years. Some say they were in some kinda relationship and some say they just slept hooked up but either way the consensus seems to be that whatever it was Mel B was the one that cooled it.

The British press picked up on these rumors following a 2002 interview with Mel B's ex-husband, in which he insinuated a "not-so-platonic relationship" between Mel B and Geri. Mel B/Geri fan theories became more widespread and accepted in the fandom as the tabloids helped push the rumors.

Up till 2019, the Spice Girls were generally evasive when asked about Mel B/Geri, neither confirming nor denying the rumors. Meri shippers were elated when Mel B was once again asked to address the rumors in a 2019 interview and said that she did have a fling with Geri during the Spice Girls' heyday in the 1990s.

Fan Theories

Typical fanmade Meri photoset in which the other Spice Girls are cropped or blurred out to focus on Mel B and Geri's interactions.

Tinhatters often point to Mel B and Geri's close interactions in interviews, concerts, and behind the scenes footage as "evidence" for the ship. The Spice Girls themselves, particularly Mel B, were seen to have teased/hint at this ship when asked about the Mel B/Geri rumors in interviews.

Viva Forever

Some fans speculate that the Spice Girls song "Viva Forever" is about Mel B/Geri.

DID YOU KNOW?
In the book "The Spice Girls Revisited" by David Sinclair it was confirmed by the co-writers/producers of the song Matthew Rowe & Richard Stannard that Geri Halliwell was the main songwriter of "Viva Forever", the last single by the Spice Girls as 5 piece. The song was written/recorded in 1997.

As for the meaning of the song, it is said that it's about a romance that she kept a secret [Feelings unfold, they will never be sold and the secret's safe with me] and it mostly reflects on the holidays, adventures and memories they made together.

The funny thing is: Geri never had a long term boyfriend during the Spice Girls or had the time to date anyone outside fame. Plus, most of the holidays/adventures she went was with Melanie B [Fiji, Portugal, Spain, Sri Lanka, Antigua and Barbudas, Maui, the infamous Mojave desert incident]. At the end, it pretty much explains why the song never mentions a "he".

Bottom line: The song is about her relationship with Mel B.

Note: Mel B cried while performing this song twice in Oslo, Norway during the '98 Tour. The 28th of May (the day after Geri left) and the 29th (on her 23rd birthday).

Example Fanworks

Fanvids

• meri | can we surrender? by merispice
• MelB & Geri { MERI } || Secret Love Song ♡ by Camrentooreal cam
• geri + mel b | paper rings by editsglow
• melanie brown + geri halliwell by merispice

Compilations

Fan created videos compiling Mel B/Geri footage.

• Mel B & Geri - Through the years by CrystalEye90210: "A compilation of moments between Mel B and Geri from the Spice girls. The video is mostly chronological and begins with footage of 25 years ago (in 1994) and ends with footage of this year (2019)."
• Mel B & Geri moments by Ashleigh
• Mel B & Geri - In their own words by CrystalEye90210
• Mel B & Geri - Spice World 2019 by CrystalEye90210

Archives & Fannish Links

• Melanie Brown/Geri Halliwell tag on Archive of Our Own
• "Spice Girls; Scary and Ginger...have they?", Mel B/Geri discussion thread on The L Chat
• "Facts" tag on scary-ginger.tumblr.com