Doubts have been cast over whether Glastonbury 2021 will go ahead following a claim from Mel B that the festival has definitely been cancelled.
The claim quickly circulated on Twitter following a tweet by TV critic and podcast host Scott Bryan, who said the Spice Girl had made the comments in a BBC Radio 5 Live podcast interview.
However, Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis was quick to respond, saying: “Happy new year to you all!
Spice Girl Mel B made the comments in a podcast interview
“There’s no news this end yet, we haven’t cancelled. Will let you know right here as soon as we have an update.”
According to Bryan, Mel B said she had found out “today” that the event was off due to the coronavirus crisis.
She is not the first person to cast doubt, with Paul McCartney saying in a radio interview before Christmas that he is not hopeful.
The Beatles star was due to headline in 2020 before the festival – its 50th anniversary event – was cancelled towards the start of the pandemic.
He told BBC Radio 4: “100,000 people closely packed together with flags and no masks – you know, talk about super-spreader. I’d love it to [happen], but I have a feeling it’s not going to.”
In August, Eavis said she was still aiming for the festival to take place in June 2021, despite her father Michael Eavis, the event’s founder, saying it was uncertain.
Paul McCartney was due to headline in 2020
Michael Eavis said he would “be moving heaven and Earth” to make it happen but it could be “wishful thinking”, and the only “certainty” for the festival is 2022.
Headliners Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar, as well as McCartney, plus hundreds of other acts, were due to play at this year’s 50th anniversary celebrations in June before the festival was called off due to COVID-19.