Spice Girls icon Mel C has abruptly pulled the plug on performing at a gig in Poland for New Year - saying there is a conflict with her personal views.
The 48-year-old musician - known to many as Sporty Spice - had been due to take to the stage for the Polish state broadcaster on New Year's Eve.
However, she has since decided not to attend the event - seemingly due to Poland’s attitudes to the LGBTQ+ community.
On Monday, Mel announced to her followers that she would not be taking part in her previously planned NYE performance, she didn’t go into too much detail as to why she was no longer willing to perform.
However, many have assumed that is it in relation to the fact that Poland trails the rest of the EU when it comes to equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community.
Announcing her decision on social media, Mel wrote: "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 added: “I hope to be back there very soon. Hope you’re all having a wonderful Christmas and best wishes for 2023.”
Her message was met with a wall of support from followers - with many assuming she would not perform due to Poland’s bad record on LGBTQ+ equal rights.
Same-sex marriage is not recognised in the European country - while some areas of Poland have banned LGBTQ+ gatherings.
One follower responded to Mel’s post to declare: “Congratulations on your decision and you have my respect.”
Mel has been an outspoken supporter of the LGBTQ+ community in the past.
Performing at Brighton Pride back in 2019, she won praise when she took to the stage with a pink, white and blue striped flag.
She declared at the time: “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].”
While last year she said during an interview that she was happy that some fans assumed she was a lesbian while she was at the height of her Spice Girls fame.
She told Closer Magazine: “I have friends who have only got to know me later on and they’re like, ‘There was no question in my mind that you were a lesbian.’
“It’s so funny, 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.”
Her decision not to perform in Poland is a stark contrast to the husband of her bandmate Victoria Beckham - David - who was slammed by fans for endorsing the recent World Cup in Qatar which has terrible human rights records.
Mel had already risked a feud with Vicky over her differing views when she publicly slammed people who take money from Qatar - after Dave received a reported £10 million to be the face of the World Cup.
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