Melanie C pulls out of Poland NYE gig in solidarity with 'communities I support'

Melanie C has pulled retired of a New Year's Eve performance successful Poland aft being made alert of issues "that bash not align with the communities I support".

The Spice Girl had been owed to execute successful the municipality of Zakopane connected Saturday.

She didn't specify wherefore she cancelled her appearance, but her determination was praised by LGBT radical and allies.

Polish authorities and the TV presumption organising the performance person been wide criticised successful caller years for their stances connected LGBT rights.

The vocalist wrote connected societal media: "In airy of immoderate issues that person been brought to my attention, that bash not align with the communities I support, I'm acrophobic I volition nary longer beryllium capable to execute successful Poland arsenic planned connected New Year's Eve.

"I anticipation to beryllium backmost determination precise soon. Hope you're each having a fantastic Christmas and champion wishes for 2023. Melanie xxx."

The New Year's Eve amusement is being organised by authorities broadcaster TVP, who said she had withdrawn "under the unit of online comments".

BBC News has asked Melanie C's spokesperson for much accusation astir her reasons.

The prima has been a high-profile protagonist of LGBT rights, winning the personage state prize astatine the British LGBT Awards successful 2021 and being named "Honorary Gay" astatine Attitude magazine's awards earlier this year.

Those praising her determination included left-wing Polish politicians Robert Biedron and Beata Maciejewska, who wrote: "Equality is equality. No treatment oregon compromise."

Hostility to LGBT rights has go a flashpoint successful Poland successful caller years, with blimpish politicians including the ruling enactment often taking purpose astatine that community.

In 2019, President Andrzej Duda said the LGBT question was "more destructive" than communism, portion astir 100 towns and regions passed resolutions condemning "LGBT ideology".

Same-sex marriages and civilian unions are not ineligible successful Poland. Same-sex couples besides person nary ineligible close to follow children.

Earlier this year, Amnesty International said "the ambiance of hostility towards LGBTI radical successful Poland is increasing dangerously worse".

According to the country's Campaign Against Homophobia, the broadcaster was precocious ordered to aerial an apology for a 2019 documentary called Invasion, which promised to uncover "the wrong story, aims, methods, and wealth down the LGBT invasion" of Poland.

Responding to Melanie C's withdrawal, TVP said successful a connection reported by Polishnews.co.uk that the vocalist had antecedently expressed her excitement astatine performing, "and contiguous - nether the unit of online comments - she unexpectedly resigned from the performance".

She volition besides look successful BBC One's New Year's Eve performance hosted by Sam Ryder, which was recorded earlier this month.