Scary Spice's Hot Isn't

ByABC News
October 19, 2000, 2:24 PM

October 17 -- Spice Girl Mel B is living up to her Scary Spice nickname she's frightening away record buyers from picking up her solo album.

According to British sales figures, Mel's solo debut, Hot, is anything but. Released last week overseas, the disc entered the charts at No. 28. If that's not embarrassing enough, a 60-year-old, Sir Cliff Richard, debuted well ahead of Mel B at No. 7.

Adding insult to injury, Northern Star, by fellow Spice Mel C, a k a Sporty Spice, was at No. 26 a full 48 weeks after its initial release. Sporty topped the U.K. singles charts earlier this year with "Never Be the Same Again," a duet with TLC's Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, and is up for three MTV Europe Music Awards.

But a spokesperson for Scary didn't shy away from making further comparisons to Sporty. "[Northern Star] was similarly slagged off when it came out but has gone on to be a phenomenal success," she noted of poor press and public reception to Hot, speaking to the BBC.

Meanwhile, Mel B and estranged husband Jimmy Gulzar are scheduled to appear in London High Court on Wednesday to discuss the future of their 20-month-old daughter, Phoenix Chi. Although the singer has reportedly agreed to shell out $1.8 million to Gulzar as part of the divorce settlement, including a London apartment valued at $725,000, she is expected to receive custody of the child.

The Spice Girls' new album, Forever, is in U.S. stores on Nov. 7.