LONDON -- British pop star J has hit back at accusations that his relationship with Spice Girl Mel C was a sham and insisted they were in love, the Sun newspaper reported Tuesday.


The singer from boy band Five, whose real name is Jason Brown, said that they had been a couple for three months but were rarely seen together because of their busy schedules.


"Our relationship is not a PR stunt," he told Britain's biggest selling tabloid.


"People keep saying it's a scam because we were never photographed together. ? All I'm saying is we're a couple, and in the past I haven't really wanted to talk about it.


"When we're alone she's not Mel from the Spice Girls, she's just Melanie. I can tell you she stayed 'round my flat last night, and that wasn't a publicity stunt.


"I just want to set the record straight."