Spice Girls' Mel B Says, "I Wouldn’t Call Myself a Feminist" but Lived for Girl Power

She provides a confusing answer about her stance on the ideology in an interview with the London Times

By Francesca Bacardi Feb 17, 2015 4:23 PMTags
Melanie Brown, Mel BStuart C. Wilson/Getty Images

Girl power was pretty much the Spice Girls' motto, but band member Melanie Brown aka Mel B has seemingly forgotten about the girl group's empowering motto.

In an interview with the London Times, the X Factor judge opened up about her stance on feminism and whether or not she would consider herself one. Spoiler alert: she doesn't.

"I wouldn't call myself a feminist," she told the publication.

Although that's a surprising enough answer in it of itself, what's more surprising is her explanation.

"I try to live by the girl-power motto. It's about believing in yourself, no matter how bad a day you're having, and lending your support to other women," she added. "It's empowering to have that camaraderie with other women."

Isn't that what feminism is?! How you confuse us, Mel!

She isn't the only celeb to go out and admit that she isn't a feminist. Actress Salma Hayek previously declared that she, too, wouldn't consider her a feminist right before being honored as a women's rights advocate at Equality Now's Make Equality Reality event. She also is the co-founder of Chime for Change, a global campaign focusing on fighting for women's rights around the world.

"I am not a feminist," Hayek told People. "If men were going through the things women are going through today, I would be fighting for them with just as much passion. I believe in equality."

Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting also made some controversial comments about feminism, famously saying that she preferred to have her husband come home to her cooked meals.

Terry McGinnis/WireImage

"It's not really something I think about," she told Redbook. "Things are different now, and I know a lot of the work that paved the way for women happened before I was around...I was never that feminist girl demanding equality, but maybe that's because I've never really faced inequality.

"I cook for Ryan five nights a week: It makes me feel like a housewife; I love that. I know it sounds old-fashioned, but I like the idea of women taking care of their men. I'm so in control of my work that I like coming home and serving him. My mom was like that, so I think it kind of rubbed off."

She later apologized for her comments.