Photo: JMEnternational/JMEnternational for BRIT Awards/Getty. Inset: Neil Mockford/GC Images
The members ofLittle Mixare separating themselves from former groupmate Jesy Nelson.
Over the weekend, fans noticed that Little Mix’sPerrie Edwards,Leigh-Anne PinnockandJade Thirwallunfollowed Nelson after she released her debut solo single “Boyz” withNicki Minajand received backlash for what many Black social media users described as blackfishing.
“ALL LITTLE MIX MEMBERS HAVE UNFOLLOWED JESY BYEEE,“tweeted one fanas others chimed in saying it was “deserved.”
Nelson, 30, initiallyleft the grouplast December citing how being in the group had been “taking a toll” on her mental health. She has since shared how “truly unhappy” she felt in the group and revealed in an interview last week that she and her Little Mix “sisters” had not spoken since her exit.
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“We’ve sent a few texts, but that’s it. I can’t explain it, it’s like there has to be this distance,” Nelson said in herGlamour U.K.interview. “We were so close so you can’t do in-between, there has to be space and hopefully at some point in the future, we can all come back together.”
Nelson was asked about the accusations in an interview withNew York’sVulture, stating that she never received this sort of backlash while she was in the group and that she’s “just 100% being myself.”
“If you look at me onX-Factorwith my big curly hair, I was wearing trainers and combats — that’s who I am as an artist and as Jesy,” she told the outlet. “Now I’m out of Little Mix, I’ve gone back to being who I am. Like I said, I don’t ever want to be an artist who’s being told what to wear or what music to make. I want to be authentic and true to myself, and if people don’t like that, don’t be my fan. Don’t be a part of my journey.”
The magazine stated that it had scheduled follow-up calls with the songstress to discuss identity and blackfishing, but Nelson’s team canceled them and instead provided a statement.
On an Instagram Live with Minaj on Monday, Nelson also hinted at the controversy.
A rep for Nelson did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
source: people.com
