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America's Got Talent Race Joke Controversy: Mel B Weighs In on Getting Booed

Former Spice Girl says all the judges have faced the wrath of the audience

By Marc Malkin Apr 10, 2013 11:59 PMTags
Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, Howard Stern and Mel BMichael Loccisano/Getty Images

Mel B wants everyone to know that she doesn't care about facing the wrath of the audience during auditions for America's Got Talent.

The former Spice Girl made headline news yesterday after it was reported she was booed when she told a comedian that she was offended by his jokes about black taxi drivers.

"I think anytime you're dealing with race, it could sometimes be a sensitive subject," Mel B told me exclusively today while on break from another round of auditions in NYC.

"I wasn't afraid to go there and say, 'You know what? I was offended,'" she said. "It's not because he did a race joke, but it's way that he did it, and it wasn't funny."

Some media reports made it sound like she was also ganged up on by the other judges with Howard Stern reportedly sniping that she lacked a sense of humor.

"We all get along," Mel B said. "We're not afraid to argue our points with each other. We're not afraid to fight for a contestant. We're not afraid to tell a contestant we don't like them. It's a real hot-and-spicy panel, and I love it."

And she's certainly not about to let some boos get in the way.

She said, "Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and that was my opinion and that's that."

You tell them, Mel!

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