Garbage's Shirley Manson Apologizes to Mel C for "Cruel" 90s Spice Girls Criticism
Garbage frontwoman Shirley Manson issued a public apology in a social media comment to former Spice Girls member Mel C, admitting that her past criticism of the girl group was "flippant and cruel." The episode traces back to a July 6, 2026 episode of The Louis Theroux Podcast, in which host Louis Theroux read Mel C a series of critical quotes from various musicians.
From podcast to Instagram apology
Theroux cited Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, who once called the Spice Girls "the anti-Christ." Mel C responded with a mock gasp: "That's a bit strong, isn't it? I love Radiohead." Theroux then read out Manson's own quote, in which she said she wished for the Spice Girls' "total annihilation." Mel C took the barrage of criticism in stride, suggesting the band was probably "everything they hated most — the most commercial, the most shiny pop, not their thing at all."
After the clip of Mel C's response was posted to the podcast's Instagram account, Manson took to the comments to apologize directly. She wrote that she had wrongly assumed the Spice Girls were entirely manufactured, and had underestimated the impact the group had on an entire generation of young girls. "My words were flippant and cruel. I wish I could take them back, but I can't," she wrote. She added that she'd learned that "empowerment comes in many forms," and admitted plainly: "I was a dick."
Manson had also told Vice in a 2016 interview that she found the Spice Girls "repulsive" at the time and believed their success was "a con" — another piece of criticism resurfaced alongside her 90s remarks. Mel C responded graciously to the apology: "Shirley, I've always loved you. Don't worry about it at all — it was the 90s, we were all young. I once threatened to fight Liam Gallagher at the Brit Awards!"
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Manson also spoke to NME recently about Garbage's co-headlining tour last month with Skunk Anansie, calling Skunk Anansie frontwoman Skin a "national treasure." Meanwhile, Spice Girls member Victoria Beckham hinted in May that the group might not rule out an ABBA Voyage-style hologram show; the group's last full tour was in 2019.