Former Spice Girls star Melanie Chisholm (known as Mel C or "Sporty Spice," as she was called during her years in the band), reveals in a new book that she was sexually assaulted the night before the hit girl group's first big show.
In a new autobiography written by Chisholm, titled "Who I Am," the 48-year-old British singer reveals she was sexually harassed by a masseuse in Istanbul the night before the Spice Girls' first live performance in 1997.
"It happened to me the night before the Spice Girls' first live performance. We rehearsed for weeks, measurements of clothes, makeup, hair. Everything in preparation for the climax of everything I've ever wanted to do or be," Chisholm revealed in a podcast interview, as part of a promotion She told about the incident that happened in the spa at the hotel where the girls were staying.
"We got to the night before the show, and I decided to treat myself to a massage at the hotel. I just buried what happened to me almost immediately," she shared, "because there were other things that needed to be focused on. I didn't want to make a big deal out of it and I just didn't have the time to deal with it." With it. Because I didn't have the time to deal with it then, I realize now that I let it be buried for years."
The Spice Girls at the closing ceremony of the London Olympics in 2012, photo: AFP
Melanie added and said that she had no intention of including the sexual assault she experienced in her book, but realized that she had to share the traumatic experience so that she could deal with it.
"When I wrote the book, it was revealed to me in a dream," she said.
"I woke up and it was there in my head. I said to myself, 'God, I didn't even think about including it in the book,' and then I thought about whether I even want to include it. Do I want to reveal the story, and I came to the conclusion that yes. It's important for me to say it and face it With this once and for all I should be able to digest it," she said.
Melanie C (second from the left) with her Spice Girls friends, photo: AP
Chisholm added and said that she is aware that in terms of sexual assault her story is probably considered a "mild case", but emphasized that she felt violated and vulnerable.
"I was embarrassed, insecure. Did I understand correctly what happened here? There were so many emotions and thoughts and in the end I realized that I did want to talk about it because it affected me."
The singer went on to say that her emotional turmoil also stemmed from being a person who always wants to please others.
"Everyone knows better than me. What if I was wrong? I don't want to come off as a fool," she revealed the thoughts that went through her mind at the time.
"After digging deep into my soul and growing up, in the struggle to overcome so many things, I learned that you have to learn to trust your instincts. There is only one person in the world who knows what is good for you, and that is you," she concluded.
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