Jesy Nelson Has Left Little Mix, And I’m Gonna Need A Personal Day To Process This

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Just when you thought 2020 couldn’t get any worse, Jesy Nelson has announced she’s left Little Mix.

The British band were formed on The X Factor UK in 2011, and went on to become one of the most successful girl groups of all time over the past nine years. 

Jesy Nelson’s Statement

Jesy Nelson took to Instagram to announce the news, writing “The past nine years in Little Mix has been the most incredible time of my life.” She continued: “The truth is recently being in the band has really taken a toll on my mental health. I find the constant pressure of being in a girl group and living up to expectations very hard.”

Jesy had previously made a documentary for the BBC called Odd One Out, which delved deep into the pressures she faced being in the group at such a young age.

In the documentary, Jesy opened up about how the British press bullied her throughout the majority of her career. She also spoke about her eating disorder, depression, and the online abuse she has faced. 

As for what she will do now, Jesy alluded to the fact that she will retreat from the spotlight, saying: “There comes a time in life when we need to reinvest in taking care of ourselves rather than focusing on making other people happy, and I feel like now is the time to begin that process.”

Jesy also spoke about how she needs to spend some time with the people she loves, doing things that make her happy.  “I’m ready to embark on a new chapter in my life — I’m not sure what it’s going to look like right now, but I hope you’ll still be there to support me”.

Read the full statement here:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

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And we 100% will be there for you, Jesy!

Little Mix’s Response

In response to this, Jade Thirlwall, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and Perrie Edwards have all crafted a statement that can be read on Little Mix’s Twitter account. 

The statement reads: “This is an incredibly sad time for all of us but we are fully supportive of Jesy. We love her very much and agree that it is so important that she does what is right for her mental health and well-being. We are still very much enjoying our Little Mix journey and the 3 of us are not ready for it to be over. We know that Jesy leaving the group is going to be really upsetting news for our fans. We love you guys so much and are so grateful for your loyalty and continued support of all of us. We’re looking forward to seeing so many of you on tour.”

Little Mix have just wrapped up their UK reality show Little Mix: The Search, where the group operated as a panel of judges in the hopes to craft the world’s next pop group. The prize, which was won by Since September, was to open for Little Mix on their next tour. 

Jesy Nelson’s departure from the group was expected by some, as it follows Jesy’s month-long break, of which she cited “private medical reasons” as the reason.

Little Mix’s Legacy

Little Mix has been in the spotlight for nine years now, which is much longer than the average lifespan of a girl group. So, if you have any friends who are ‘mixers’ make sure you check in with them because this is all very reminiscent of when Ginger left the Spice Girls.

We’re gonna miss you Jesy, and we wish you all the best.