Stylish Celebrity Escapism
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Mar 26
'08
Kelly Osbourne criticizes Spice Girls

Those Osbournes never know when to keep their opinions to themselves. Actually I don’t think they’ve ever even heard of the concept. But once in a while one of them makes a surprisingly good point, which hallways throws me a bit. Kelly Osbourne has come under fire for criticizing the Spice Girls for bringing their young children on stage during their performances on their recent tour. And she actually makes a bit of a good point.

Kelly Osbourne has lashed out at the Spice Girls for showing off their kids onstage. The outspoken reality TV star, whose own mother and father Sharon and Ozzy have often come under fire for their parenting skills, has offered her own family tips.

The 23-year-old admits she admires Gwyneth Paltrow’s celebrity parenting, but the Spice Girls are at the bottom of her list. She explains, “I respect Gwyneth Paltrow because she covers her babies’ faces - she never lets the paparazzi get that picture.

“I’m not going to put the Spice Girls down, but they took their kids on stage at every single show of that last tour of theirs. To be a child of three and have 25,000 girls screaming at you - I don’t think that’s necessarily good.”

[From Hollywood.TV]

Kelly actually makes a decent point, and she says it in a fair way. She’s certainly not “lashing out.” While I’m not really a fan of Gwyneth Paltrow covering her kids faces – I’m afraid that might give them some kind of weird shame complex – I could see how the Spice Girls bringing their kids on stage every night could be seen as a little exploitative. While it made news everywhere that three-year-old Cruz Beckham had some major break dancing skills, bringing the kids on every night to perform might have been a bit much. On the one hand it’s cute to watch, but on the other I couldn’t help but feel it was a little put on. Both Melanie Brown and Geri Halliwell brought their babies onstage as well. From other videos it appears that the kids are wearing earphones to block out the screams, which is good and shows their parents are taking their health into consideration. But it somehow seems like they’re trying to profit off their kids. Hopefully they all enjoy it and are having a good time, but I think in this one instance, Kelly Osbourne actually makes a good point. Now let’s see if she has anything to say about her own parents’ not-so-great decisions.

Here’s Kelly Osbourne alone with her family at the Birt Awards on February 20th. Images thanks to PR Photos.

Posted in Kelly Osbourne, Kids, Parents, Spice Girls

Written by JayBird         16 Comments »
Mar 12
'08
Geri Halliwell’s singing awakens young stroke victim


Sometimes you hear just the strangest stories, like someone being knifed in the head and surviving, or a dog returning home after being lost for years. Or Geri Halliwell’s singing curing a stroke victim.

The girl who had the stroke is Jessica Knight, who last month was walking home and was stabbed 30 times, causing the stroke. She is 14 years old, and the attack has received a lot of press in the United Kingdom where it took place.

Jessica – who also suffered a stroke as a result of her injuries - hadn’t moved but as soon as Geri started singing, it triggered her long road to recovery.

Jessica’s mother, Jill Walmsley, said: “Geri sang a couple of lines from one of the Spice Girls’ songs and Jessica started moving her arms and legs. It was amazing. We were all in fits of giggles because we were so relieved and it was just so funny seeing her legs move to Geri’ singing.

“The next day, she opened her eyes for the first time.”

Sydney Morning Herald

This is actually a great story, Jessica is now talking again, and will soon be heading home. She can’t recall the visit from Geri, but Geri left her a Spice Girls tour wristband that I suspect this kid is never going to take off.

Geri will never have to hear any criticism of her voice again – who cares what she sounds like, she can cure illness! Can you do that, Celine Dion?

Geri Halliwell is shown at the Spice Girls’ final concert in Toronto and at the after party on 2/27/08.

Posted in Geri Halliwell, Illness, Spice Girls

Written by Helen         6 Comments »
Feb 19
'08
Three-year-old Cruz Beckham breakdances at Spice Girls’ concert


Three-year-old Cruz Beckham, the youngest son of Victoria and David Beckham, rocked the house at NYC’s Madison Square Garden last night. The toddler joined his mother and older brothers on stage during a Spice Girls concert, and busted a few breakdancing moves for the delighted crowd. During a song paying tribute to mothers, all the Spice Girls brought out their children, and little Cruz was more than happy to upstage his famous mommy and her friends:

They cancelled their tour supposedly to spend more time with their children.

So it was more than a little ironic that The Spice Girls were upstaged by an amazing display of breakdancing moves from little Cruz Beckham.

The youngest Beckham boy, who will be three tomorrow, charmed the notoriously tough crowd at Madison Square Garden with an amazing display of breakdancing, revealing a hidden talent for the crowd pleasing moves.

Even Spice Girl Melanie Brown, mother of Angel Iris and Phoenix Chi, was amazed at his spontaneous performance and she had to stop singing as she laughs out loud in amazement and says “that’s brilliant” as proud mother Victoria looks on smiling.

A lucky concertgoer who saw the three-year-old in action told PerezHilton.com: “All the girls had to stop singing because they were laughing so hard…He did a little head stand, then even spun on his head a little.

“They couldn’t get him off the stage when the song was over. It was the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen!!”

[From The Daily Mail]

Maybe Cruz has a future in show business like his parents. It sure looks like he loves the spotlight. I also think it’s funny that he never seems intimidated by the paparazzi when he goes out with his parents. He does seem a lot more mature than the average two-year-old– I’ve seen him in pictures before when traveling with Mommy handling his own luggage! He seems like a fun kid. All the Spice Girls’ children are adorable. I can see why they would rather end the whole Spice Girls thing to spend time with them. In the photographs from that show, it’s notable that Cruz’s older brother, Brooklyn, who is now 9, looks bored out of his mind. Oh, well– not everyone is born to be onstage.

Note by Celebitchy: Here’s the video. Little Cruz is shown breakdancing about about three minutes in. Cruise is officially just two, but he turns three on his birthday tomorrow.

The header image is of Cruz out with Posh on 2/9/08, thanks to WENN. (We don’t have the rights to the breakdancing or concert pics, but they’re on The Daily Mail if you’d like to see them.)

Posted in Awesomeness, Concerts, Spice Girls, Victoria Beckham

Written by MSat         See post for comments
Feb 2
'08
Spice Girls cancel tour

The Spice Girls seem to have done a pretty good job of keeping tight-lipped on their tour. There’s been mostly positive press and decent reviews, though ticket sales haven’t been entirely impressive. There have been lots of stories of how family oriented they all are now. But apparently relations behind the scenes were getting pretty tense, leading both Melanie Brown and Melanie Chisholm to quit. Now the entire worldwide reunion/farewell tour has been canceled after only two months of performing. Both Mels officially blamed family commitments, but according to the Daily Mail, they’re just tired of the tour.

However, despite citing family commitments as their reason for cutting the tour short, sources close to the group say the two Mels did not want to continue.

After they were presented with a new tour schedule the friend said to the Daily Mirror: “Mel B wasn’t having any of it. She misses her husband and children and said she couldn’t go on. She’s also been flooded with US offers after her success on Dancing With Stars.

“Mel C agreed it was time to call it a day. She was the least excited about it. She also feared it might jeopardise her solo career.”

Officially, a spokesman for the girls said: “Sadly the tour needs to come to an end by the end of February due to family and personal commitments for Emma, Geri, Mel B, Melanie C and Victoria.

[From the Daily Mail]

I’m guessing there was some drama behind the scenes, though the girls have been very careful to only release positive information. There’s a lot of talk about their personal and family commitments, how much fun they’ve had, maybe they’ll do it again, etc. What I want to hear is about Mel B shoving a raw steak in Posh’s face or Baby Spice trying to kick Geri Halliwell in the head. All this professional politeness is bor-ring. They’ve still got until the end of February to give us what we want.

Posted in Music, Photos, Spice Girls

Written by JayBird         See post for comments
Jan 9
'08
Scary Spice overshares

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We all have those times where we over share, and really wish we could take it back. Sometimes you’re talking with your girlfriends and you all just get carried away, and the next day you realize they know just how bad your boyfriend is in bed. Sometimes you’re drunk and say a bunch of things to mere acquaintances, and the next day you realize they know just how bad your boyfriend is in bed. But you can normally comfort yourself with the fact that at least it’s just a couple people. Worst case scenario, maybe it’s the whole bar. But it’s generally not a whole arena. Unless you’re Spice Girl Melanie Brown. The girl doesn’t seem to know the difference between sharing an appropriate versus inappropriate detail from her private life.

Spice Girl Melanie Brown has sparked outrage in the U.K. for the second time in a month - by talking about her sex life on stage.

The singer stunned young fans at the band’s U.K. gig in London on Tuesday by informing fans she had “too much clitoral stimulation” over Christmas.

Brown’s statement embarrassed fellow bandmates Geri Halliwell, Melanie Chisholm, Emma Bunton and Victoria Beckham, prompting them to tell her to be quiet.

Brown stunned parents in the crowd at a gig in December by thrusting her head between the legs of a male fan during her solo performance of Lenny Kravitz’s Are You Gonna Go My Way.

[From Starpulse]

I’m guessing the parents that brought their children to the concert weren’t really happy to receive that information. Though to be fair, it’s probably safe to say that most of the audience didn’t really want or need to know that. And I think that most of us – at least those of us that aren’t 17 year old boys – are capable of keeping that level of sex talk to ourselves and maybe a few close friends. The average person is not so desperate to prove they have a love life that they have to talk about their lady bits. I know there’s a lot of free press to shock value, but I can’t imagine that the Spice Girls are this desperate for it.

Picture note by Jaybird: Header image of Mel B and husband Stephen Belafonte on December 18th. Images thanks to Splash Photos.

Posted in Gross, Melanie B, Spice Girls

Written by JayBird         See post for comments
Dec 14
'07
Spice Girls request a daycare… and some steamed fish

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The Spice Girls must have the most restrained and logical concert rider in history. We recently reported on some of the crazy celebrity contract riders as mentioned in the book “The Little Red Riders Book: The Backstage Requests Of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s Most Famous Artists” by Steve Lamacq. Among a few of the better ones were Mariah Carey’s request for Cristal champagne, one box of bendy straws, one special attendant to dispose of used chewing gum, tea service for eight, a Honey Bear pack of honey, two air purifiers, a puppy, and kittens. And Mariah’s request were certainly not the most outlandish. Marilyn Manson requested a bald toothless hooker (which we hope was simply a reflection of his dark sense of humor) while David Hasselhoff requests a life-size cutout… of David Hasselhoff. I’m assuming frozen in that dramatic beach rescue running pose.

By comparison, the Spice Girls don’t exactly seem like the divas they used to be portrayed as.

All five have submitted a rider asking for a regular supply of light salads, steamed fish and fresh fruit. Geri Halliwell has asked for Evian and Melanie Brown will have sparkling spring water. [Melanie] Chisholm wants a kettle in her dressing room, Emma Bunton will have scented candles, slippers and flowers while Victoria Beckham’s fridge will be replenished daily with edamame soya beans.

[From the Daily Mail]

The most lavish thing the girls have requested is a daycare to be installed at London’s O2 Arena, where they’re playing 17 sold-out dates. Considering all the kids and nannies they’ll have in tow, it seems pretty reasonable.

The Spice Girls have had a creche [daycare] installed at the O2 ahead of their 17 nights of sell-out gigs.

The group - who, with the exception of Melanie Chisholm, are all now mothers - have requested the facility so their small army of child-minders can keep the children occupied during their two-hour concerts, which start tomorrow.

An insider said: “They all want their babies close by and looked after, so their nannies also come with the package.”

[From the Daily Mail]

When I first started researching this story, I assumed it would head in the direction of “Spice Girls have crazy diva demands.” I also assumed a creche was some type of fancy air ionizer or something. Since the article just called the arena the O2, I was thinking oxygen. So I was mightily disappointed – though impressed – that the girls were just asking for a quiet, fun place to put their kids. So far their concerts are getting pretty good reviews. Emma Bunton took a spill during a show last week and sprained her ankle, but has continued to perform, despite her leg being wrapped and hobbling around on crutches. Say what you want about their talent, but either they’re keeping their petty differences to themselves, or the Spice Girls are – at the very least – consummate professionals.

Picture note by Jaybird: Header image of the Spice Girls (with Sir Richard Branson) opening Virgin Atlantic’s new terminal at Heathrow Airport yesterday. Images thanks to PR Photos.

Posted in Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell, Melanie B, Melanie Chisholm, Spice Girls, Victoria Beckham

Written by JayBird         See post for comments
Dec 7
'07
Victoria Beckham Says She Has No Talent


The Spice Girls are touring, making them suddenly cool again (or maybe ‘cool’ for the first time). Victoria Beckham is featured on the cover of Elle magazine this month, and revealed what we’ve long suspected - she has no natural talents.

ON HER TALENT:
“It became very obvious from the start,” Beckham continues, “that I was never going to be the best singer or the best dancer or the best actress. I was never a ‘natural.’ ” She thinks about this. “You know, I’ve never been that good at anything, to be completely honest.”

[From Elle]

Actually, Posh seems to have a talent for attracting attention to herself and wearing naff outfits.

As if to prove that she has no talent, at the Los Angeles Spice Girls show she skipped her solo singing spot, instead opting for a prance down the runway.

Baby, Scary, Ginger and Sporty each belted out solo numbers. Mel C’s “I Turn to You”, Scary’s rendition of “Are You Gonna Go My Way” and Ginger’s of “It’s Raining Men” brought the house down! Meanwhile, Posh rested her pipes and opted instead for a maaayjah prance down the runway as a mix of Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” and RuPaul’s “Supermodel” played in the background.

[From TMZ]

When the Spice Girls were in their heyday it was always said that Posh and Sporty were the two strongest singers, so I wonder if Victoria’s reluctance to sing is actually from a lack of self confidence. Although, she did work that catwalk!

While I’ve never heard any of Victoria’s solo music, maybe a great cover would work for her. How much would you love to see her parody herself while singing ‘You’re So Vain’?

Note by Celebitchy: Victoria Beckham is shown in the video below singing live and acoustic. She’s not bad. Victoria is shown in the header image on 12/7/07 at “The Mint” in LA with Mel B, thanks to Splash News.

Posted in Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell, Melanie B, Melanie Chisholm, Spice Girls, Victoria Beckham

Written by Helen         See post for comments
Dec 6
'07
Victoria Beckham thinks she’s a gay man trapped in a woman’s body

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Victoria Beckham says she’s actually a gay man trapped in a woman’s body. From all the reruns of “Will & Grace” I’ve seen lately, I’m under the stereotypical impression that that’s every gay man’s fantasy. Trapped in an ultra-thin fashionista’s body? Married to David Beckham? Okay to be fair there’s a chance it’s half my fantasy too. Speaking of stereotypes, it appears that Victoria’s impression of gay men follows all the classics… though despite my joking, I’m not sure how accurate it is.

Victoria Beckham has said she is a gay man trying to escape from a woman’s body and that she sleeps in the nude. In the new issue of Elle magazine, Posh said: ‘I’m so camp! I’m such a gay man trying to get out. I don’t give a [bleep] what anybody thinks!’

She also spoke of her sleeping habits with husband David Beckham. ‘I sleep naked,’ she revealed. ‘I’m going to be naked if I’m getting in bed with him every night.’

The 33-year-old, who is back on tour with The Spice Girls, put the boot into the wannabes trying to steal her celeb queen crown. ‘There are so many - and I hate the word celebrities - clothing lines and fragrances, and most of them have nothing to do with it.

[From Metro UK]

Victoria sure does seem the type to just throw caution to the wind. Boy they’re really trying to push the whole, “Posh Spice has lots of personality/is loads of fun/is totally a ham!” angle lately. Bad PR flashback anyone? I’m sorry, I’m not buying it. I’ve seen Posh smile twice in photos in the last ten years, and both times it’s because David Beckham made his peck muscles dance. The only way I can guarantee that she’s like a gay man is that she wants to sleep naked next to David. Although that also makes her like a straight woman. Frankly, it probably makes her like 99% of the reasonable population. I don’t want to meet the person who wouldn’t sleep naked next to David Beckham if given the chance.

Picture note by Jaybird: Here’s Victoria with Dita Von Teese at Paris Fashion Week on October 5th. Clearly she’s camp and doesn’t give a f%$# what anybody thinks. Photos thanks to PR Photos.

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Posted in Beckham, David Beckham, Spice Girls, Victoria Beckham

Written by JayBird         See post for comments
Dec 5
'07
How Much Would You Pay For David Beckham’s Tablescraps?


David Beckham recently came down and played a game of soccer in New Zealand, met some Maori and ate out. Now it seems that the tablescraps from his fast food jaunts are worth more than a fresh burger. A lot more.

Soccer superstar David Beckham’s backwash is a hot commodity, with memorabilia hunters in New Zealand bidding up to $5000 for a partly drunk Coke bottle.

One seller is offering for sale a Coke bottle from which the soccer star allegedly drank during his recent visit to the country.

In an effort to attract bids, the seller notes on the Trademe online auction site that the bottle is still one quarter full.

“Mostly backwash I would imagine,” the seller says in answer to a query.

The bottle - which has attracted one bid of $5000 - is said to have been left on a table by Beckham after he ate at a fast-food restaurant in Wellington.

The seller said buyers are welcome to do a DNA test to prove the authenticity of the product, but also provides a picture of themselves with Beckham.

Melbourne Herald Sun

Ew, gross. The report of a $5,000 offer is greatly exaggerated, since if you view the listing it’s at $50 with no offers at all. Are you a true Beckham fan, because buying a bottle of backwashed, warm Coke would have to be the ultimate proof.

Becks also ate fried chicken, coleslaw and corn at a fast food joint in Wellington, and the cutlery and scraps were also put up for auction. I’m guessing that fried chicken is rarely on teh menu when posh is doing teh cooking. Or instructing someone else to do the cooking. She doesn’t strike me as the baking type.

Beckham played while in New Zealand with a broken rib. What, you can play a demonstration match with a broken rib but you can’t play out your multimillion dollar Galaxy contract with just a sore knee?

Beck’s left New Zealand and caught the first Spice Girls concert, and gave the girls a gift that should make them very, very happy.

We’re used to David Beckham splashing out on presents for his other half.

But Becks surprised his wife and the rest of the Spice Girls when he bought £50,000 of stunning diamond-encrusted bracelets for them all.

Posh told us: “He knows I’m really nervous about him seeing me back on stage, so he bought us all these bracelets for good luck. It’s like the old days. David spent a lot of time around the girls when we first got together - it’s as though he married all of us. He’s the original Spice Boy.”

Mirror

A diamond bracelet? For each of them? That is pretty generous, when most people go on holiday all you get is a t-shirt, or a keyring.

Picture note by Celebitchy David Beckham is shown at his youth soccer clinic on 8/17/07, thanks to PRPhotos.

Posted in David Beckham, Food, Spice Girls, Victoria Beckham

Written by Helen         See post for comments
Dec 4
'07
Spice Girls first concert gets good reviews

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Well the reviews are in (I’m sure you’ve all been waiting with baited breath) – and despite the lackluster reception at the Victoria’s Secret show, the Spice Girls’ first concert has actually gotten pretty good reviews. The sold-out Vancouver show had over 15,000 people in attendance. The girls were never known for their singing, so no one’s really evaluating them on that. They weren’t even the greatest dancers. But they were good performers and knew how to please an audience, and according to the professionals (ie people that get paid to review Spice Girls concerts… what a job) the girls still have it.

“The solid gold Spice Girls,” said London’s Evening Standard, a reference to golden outfits the “girl power” quintet sported during the show, one of several costume changes on the night. The reviewer called the performance “ebullient pop music of a very high standard, presented with panache, and highly unlikely to provoke any attendance at the refund window.”

Despite the sassy young singers who stormed the pop world in the 1990s all now being in their 30s, four of them with children, they had yet to pass their sell-by date. “There seems no diminution in the energy they are prepared to expend, or the lengths they will go to to please the audience.”

The Vancouver Sun noted the crush for Spice Girls merchandise, underlining the lasting appeal of Victoria “Posh Spice” Beckham, Melanie “Sporty” Chisholm, Geri “Ginger” Halliwell, Melanie “Scary” Brown and Emma “Baby” Bunton. “Just as it was 10 years ago, the show wasn’t about great singing or dancing,” wrote the reviewer. “But it was about great entertainment. And the girls delivered the spice.”

[From Reuters]

I know, I know. Breathe your sighs of relief. There’s some debate as to whether or not they were lip-syncing… but the debate seems to be mostly between critics, as their fans don’t seem to give a rip. And despite reportedly telling him not to attend, Posh’s husband David Beckham showed up anyway. Good for him, he knew a trap when he saw one. Several reviewers did note that all the girls had a solo performance except for Posh. Apparently she’s the worst singer of the group. That’s kind of like being the worst brussel sprout in the bowl, right?

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Posted in Spice Girls

Written by JayBird         See post for comments
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