Mel C has pulled out of a New Years gig in Poland, citing issues that do not align with the communities she supports.
LGBTQ icon, Spice Girl and all-round legend Melanie Chisholm – aka Mel C, aka Sporty Spice – was due to perform for the Polish state broadcaster on New Year’s Eve as a special guest.
However, following the announcement, some folk online shared their disappointment that Mel’s performance was set to air on TVP, which advocates have accused of airing anti-LGBTQ+ material in the last few years.
In addition to controversy around the broadcaster, Poland has been under fire following the introduction of “LGBT-Free” zones. In 2019, President Andrzej Duda said the LGBT movement was “more destructive” than communism, while about 100 towns and regions passed resolutions condemning “LGBT ideology”.
Same-sex marriages and civil unions are not legally recognised in Poland. Same-sex couples also have no legal right to adopt children.
Mel told fans on social media that she would no longer be performing.
“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,” she said.
“I hope to be back there very soon.”
— Mel C / Melanie C (@MelanieCmusic) December 26, 2022
The decision to withdraw from the scheduled concert, which has been praised by LGBTQ+ advocates, comes weeks after fellow Spice Girl Victoria Beckham’s husband – footballer David Beckham – received backlash for his endorsement of Qatar.
Disappointment fans of Beckham, who had also earned ‘gay icon’ status over the years, took to social media to condemn the footballers hypocrisy for aligning with a country which criminalises the existence of his fanbase.