What happened between Mel B and Louis Walsh on X-Factor UK?

Louis Walsh inappropriately grabbed Mel B's bottom during a live X-Factor UK broadcast in 2014, and Mel B confronted him about his behavior.

Was the inappropriate grab shown on X-Factor UK?

The inappropriate moment where Louis Walsh grabbed Mel B's bottom was edited out of subsequent airings of the X-Factor UK show.

How did Louis Walsh respond to grabbing Mel B's butt?

Louis Walsh later called the grab a joke, stating it was something he did for a laugh but acknowledged it is 'not PC anymore.'

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Mel B Confronts Butt Grab on Live TV

Mel B Confronts Butt Grab on Live TV

28 Jan

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Summary

Mel B stopped a co-worker grabbing her bottom live on TV.
The inappropriate moment was edited out of the original broadcast.
Louis Walsh later called the grab a joke, not PC anymore.

In a resurfaced 2014 video, singer Mel B, 50, is seen confronting her X-Factor UK co-judge Louis Walsh for inappropriately grabbing her bottom. While discussing performances live on air, Walsh's hand moved from behind Mel B to her posterior and he briefly held it there. Mel B immediately called out his behavior, stating, "Hold on a second, why are you grabbing my butt?"

Walsh removed his hand, responding, "I'm looking out for her," while fellow judge Cheryl Fernandez-Versini added, "Hands where I can see them, please!" Mel B reiterated that his actions were "inappropriate," making a disgusted face. This incident was edited out of subsequent airings of the show.

In 2024, as news of Walsh's casting in Celebrity Big Brother UK emerged, he addressed the moment in an interview. Walsh stated, "We'd be sitting there all day on the couch doing TV, and I just grabbed her ass as a joke." He further commented, "She was very funny and you could say anything or do anything to her and I loved her, so I would just grab her for a laugh but it's not PC anymore."