Sporty Spice Thinks Rihanna Is Too “Overtly Sexual”

Sporty Spice is telling us what she wants, what she really, really wants — and Rihanna fans may not like it.

Melanie Chisholm (a.k.a. Mel C, a.k.a. Sporty Spice from the Spice Girls) is bashing modern pop stars who need to have "a bit more dignity." Case in point: Rihanna.

"My five-year-old loves Rihanna," the British singer told Radio Times Magazine in a new interview. "But she has no idea what her idol looks like because there’s little footage that I’m happy for her to see. It’s a shame that a talented, successful woman expresses herself in such an overtly sexual way.”

"We need female artists to be authentic," she added. "Of course, a 20-something woman has feelings and experiences that she wants to express, but you also have to be mindful of your responsibility to young fans."

Chisholm also lashed out against society's obsession with the sexualization of young celebrities. "It’s vulgar and narcissistic and I worry about how it affects girls,” she said.

Before you make a crack about dancing around in tea towels, it's worth noting that the Spice Girls were always more into girl power than being provocative — the lyrics to "2 Become 1" aside. Chisholm is also quick to clarify that RiRi isn't the only pop star projecting a raunchy image. The question is: Is Rihanna's more envelope-pushing brand of "female empowerment" just as valid as the Spice Girls'? Where do you draw the line? (Radio Times)