THEY were once practically sisters, revelling in the bright lights of global superstardom and living in each other’s pockets.
But what lies beneath the surface of Victoria Beckham and Geri Halliwell's 30 years of friendship is today shrouded in mystery and intrigue.
The women arguably became the Spice Girls’ most successful bandmates, whose Girl Power catapulted them to unimaginable heights.
But then they drifted off their separate ways.
Victoria became a high-end fashion designer who for years appeared to be hell bent on shaking off the Spice Girl shackles. Geri embarked on a solo career and is now a country lady of the manor.
Putin accused of surrounding himself with same 'actors' at series of events
Their friendship seemed to stick, but it isn’t entirely surprising that after three decades, theirs, like many others, comes with its ups, downs, tensions and in some instances, competitiveness.
But it could be argued that each woman is still seemingly vying for the top spot.
Just this week, Geri unfollowed Victoria, her husband David and their son Brooklyn, only to refollow them days later, leading fans to speculate that their friendship had hit rocky ground.
“Geri and Victoria have an almost sisterly relationship. It’s a case of ‘anything you can do, I can do better,’ a showbiz insider reveals.
“They’ve been friends for decades and have likely had even more fallouts behind closed doors.
“Both ladies have always wanted to be the standout star. After all, they arguably became the two most successful members outside the Spice Girls.
“Their competitiveness doesn’t mean they’re not happy for each other, but their ‘frenemy’ status shows how they use one another to motivate themselves to keep doing bigger and better things.
“With this kind of competitiveness, it's bound to result in a factitious relationship as they continue their struggle to be the Alpha."
Geri’s sudden exit From the band in 1998 ruffled Victoria’s feathers and appeared to trigger the start of apparent deep-seated tensions.
Most notably, Victoria talked about the departure in her [2001] book Learning to Fly, where she wrote: "I'd known Geri for four years, we'd shared a room, we'd been through the most extraordinary experiences of our lives together.
Edinburgh Hogmanay revellers stuck in queues for TWO HOURS in torrential rain
"She was one of my best friends. And now she had walked out without a word. What I felt was anger at the selfishness of it all, then betrayal.”
Geri later threw shade at Victoria during an interview where she let slip that she preferred Emma Bunton over her.
Their latest rumoured run-in suggests the girls simply can’t let their tensions go.
It came in the midst of reports that Geri was ‘being supported by’ Victoria while her husband Christian Horner is being investigated for ‘inappropriate behaviour’.
The social media snub set rumours swirling again about what is really going on behind the scenes and whether the pair could now well be in frenemy territory.
Relations between the women were often shaky.
Back in 2002, writing in her book Just for the Record, Geri suggested she wanted a new start away from the Spice Girls.
She wrote: "Everyone, it seemed had an opinion on what Ginger Spice should do next -- the only one who wasn’t so sure was me. I didn’t know whether I’d make it on my own or fall flat on my face but I did know that this time it was Geri, not Ginger, who would be leading the way."
This time it was Geri, not Ginger, who would be leading the way."
Geri
Despite the evident friction during the aftermath of Geri's walk out, the women called a truce and were spotted in the south of France just four months later.
It was reported at the time that Victoria, then 25, was the only one who met Geri after she walked out.
The girl band split for good in 2000, but not before Victoria and David Beckham tied the knot in a £500,000 glam wedding - but tongues wagged again when Geri was absent.
It was never clear whether Geri was invited to the Dublin nuptials.
Victoria later denied she hadn’t invited her, and while she graced her infamous golden throne beside David at their extravagant Castle wedding on July 4 1999, Geri sang live on stage at London’s Party in the Park.
While Victoria threw herself into her fashion label, Geri released three solo albums and number one singles including Mic Chico Latino and It’s Raining Men and became a judge on TV talent shows Popstars: The Rivals and The X Factor.
But Victoria followed suit and was soon back on the music scene releasing her own debut solo album and two Top 10 singles including Out of Your Mind.
She starred in her own reality show Being Victoria Beckham, made a cameo in Ugly Betty and was a judge on Project Runway, Germany’s Next Top Model and American Idol.
It should have been the best moment of my life, but I just wanted to be elsewhere."
Victoria Beckham
The whole Spice Girls gang - including Victoria - banded together in 2012 for an epic live show at London’s Olympic Games closing ceremony.
Fans were thrilled by the reunion but, five months later in 2013, rumours swirled around Victoria reportedly dropping a clanger on plans for the girl band to embark on a ‘final fling’ world tour.
By then, Victoria was a flourishing fashion designer with catwalk shows and rumour had it, she wasn’t interested in a Spice Girls tour.
She told Paris Vogue: “I realised it was finished for good in 2008, when we reformed for our reunion tour. It should have been the best moment of my life, but I just wanted to be elsewhere.”
An inside source at the time claimed Geri was pushing their manager Simon Fuller to get back on the road, but he wouldn’t go ahead without Victoria.
The tour was ultimately cancelled, and news of a reunion disappeared.
But when it came to Geri’s fairytale wedding to F1 boss Christian Horner - seeing Geri change her surname from Halliwell to Horner - on May 15, 2015, tables were turned.
Victoria was noticeably absent from the event due to work commitments at Singapore Fashion Week - and only Emma Bunton showed up from the Spice Girls clan.
But Victoria’s absence wasn’t a total snub, as a source told The Sun: “Victoria sent Geri a special dress from her own collection. Her new line features abstract hearts, so what better occasion to wear one than on honeymoon?”
The sweet gesture was accompanied by an enormous bouquet of flowers and a special note just for Geri.
I know it is a bit boring for people - the number of times it was on and then off. I’m sorry about that."
Geri
On the day of the wedding, Victoria wrote on social media: “My beautiful friend. Sending you love and happiness. I’m so sad I couldn’t be with you on your special day. I love you.”
But then when the Spice Girls announced a massive 2019 comeback tour, millions of fans went wild. But rumour had it Victoria and Geri were already at leadership loggerheads behind the scenes.
Days after their big announcement in 2018, Posh was alleged to have demanded full control of the tour and even called on her publicist to handle it.
Sources at the time admitted to The Mirror: “Geri would like to be a dominant voice, but because Victoria was so reluctant to reunite, the power balance is shifted in her favour.
“All five want this to run smoothly, but there is mounting tension because the ball is in Victoria’s court.”
Victoria dropped out citing ‘work commitments’ and the tour went ahead with the remaining four singers Mel C, Mel B, Geri and Emma Bunton.
In an interview with The Sun in 2019, Geri apologised to fans: “I know it is a bit boring for people - the number of times it was on and then off. I’m sorry about that.”
Despite the friction, Victoria took to Instagram to support the band, using the hashtag ‘#FriendshipNeverEnds’, a nod to their 1996 hit.
But just as rumours of yet another reunion whistled around fansites in 2023 as the 30th anniversary of the Spice Girls approached, the idea seems to have come to a standstill with suggestions that Victoria and Geri butted heads for control.
The glue that holds this rocky friendship together is certainly strong stuff.
Let’s hope it isn’t a case of Goodbye [my friend] anytime soon for icons Posh and Ginger.
