Did Jesy Nelson and Leigh-Anne Pinnock fall out? Fans speculate on Little Mix rift after announcement clash

Jesy Nelson left the girlband last December, after sharing her story of how online trolling and bullying affected her, in a BBC documentary
Little Mix's Leigh-Anne was congratulated on her pregnancy announcement by Perrie and Jade, but Jesy failed to comment (Picture: Instagram/Jesy Nelson/Leigh-Anne Pinnock)Little Mix's Leigh-Anne was congratulated on her pregnancy announcement by Perrie and Jade, but Jesy failed to comment (Picture: Instagram/Jesy Nelson/Leigh-Anne Pinnock)
Little Mix's Leigh-Anne was congratulated on her pregnancy announcement by Perrie and Jade, but Jesy failed to comment (Picture: Instagram/Jesy Nelson/Leigh-Anne Pinnock)

Little Mix fans have been speculating in recent days that former band-mates Jesy Nelson and Leigh-Anne Pinnock have fallen out, after the two singers released clashing announcements.

On 4 May, Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock announced to her 6.6 million Instagram followers that she is pregnant with her first child.

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On the same day, Jesy Nelson - formerly a member of the hit girl band - gave her first interview about why she left Little Mix. Nelson announced her departure from the band in December 2020.

The interruption of Leigh-Anne’s big announcement by Jesy’s Cosmopolitan interview has caused fans to speculate about a secret clash among the former band members and friends.

So, have Jesy and the rest of the girls fallen out - or was the clash of announcements a coincidence? This is what we know.

Who are the members of Little Mix?

The girl band started out as four solo auditions for X-factor 2011.

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The band were grouped together by the judges and went on to win the singing contest.

Originally they were known as Rhythmix, but changed names and have taken the world by storm.

The band members were originally Jesy Nelson, Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and Jade Thirlwall. However Jesy left the group in late 2020, releasing a statement in she reflected on the impact of online bullying and verbal abuse for her image as having taken a toll on her wellbeing.

The other band members have continued as a trio, recently releasing their new track ‘Confetti’.

Jesy has now confirmed that she will pursue a solo career.

What did Jesy say about leaving Little Mix?

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On the same day that Leigh-Anne announced she was pregnant, Jesy told Cosmopolitan that when she returned to work after isolating during lockdown, she had panic attacks and “just wanted to go home”,

Explaining her departure from the band, Jesy cited “the constant pressure of being in a girl group and living up to expectations [was] very hard”.

In the Cosmopolitan interview, she told how on the set of Little Mix’s ‘Sweet Melody’ single, she broke down and was missing from a frame of the official video, because she was “sobbing in the dressing room”, after she had “broken down”.

She explained that because she thought she was bigger than the other girls, she didn’t feel confident, saying: I didn't look how I wanted to look and I found it so hard to just be happy and enjoy myself".

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“I looked at the other three and they were having the time of their life. I get so jealous, because I want to feel like that and enjoy it, because music is my passion.

“To have this dream and not be enjoying it because of what I look like, I knew wasn't normal," she continued.

Jesy said that looking back on her time, she “can’t believe how miserable [she] was.”

While her former bandmates, Perrie, Leigh-Anne and Jade, where glad to be back in front of the camera, Jesy said lockdown was "the first time I could have a break and be at home around people that I love."

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She said: “It was the happiest I'd ever felt, and I didn't realise that until I went back to work. I immediately became a different person. I had anxiety."

Jesy made no comment about Leigh-Anne’s pregnancy in the interview, as it was yet to be announced.

She did confirm she is now working on a solo career and has made a second documentary, following the success of her BBC documentary ‘Jesy Nelson: Odd one out’, for which she won a British Television Award.

In the hour-long documentary, she discussed the impact of online bullying and trolling on her mental health.

Has Jesy fallen out with Leigh-Anne, Perrie and Jade?

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On 14 December, as Jesy announced to Little Mix followers that she would be leaving the band, her bandmates released a joint statement, in which they shared their support for her decision.

They said: "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," but acknowledged that the news would also be upsetting for their fans.

However, as Leigh-Anne announced that she and her fiance Andre Gray are to welcome a baby, Jesy did not comment on Leigh-Anne’s Instagram post to congratulate her.

Meanwhile, Perrie and Jade expressed their excitement.

Leigh-Anne captioned a picture of herself in a green dress, cradling her bump: “‘We’ve dreamed about this moment for so long and we can’t believe the dream is finally coming true… we can’t wait to meet you.”

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Jade commented: “love you so much look at this family ”, with Perrie adding: “I can’t stop staring at these pictures. You’re a vision. Ily both so much! CONGRATULATIONS my beautiful sister! ♥️”.

Jesy shared a picture of her front page cover of Cosmopolitan, as well as several other photos from her Cosmo shoot, but remained silent on the topic of her former bandmate’s news.

This has led to much speculation about an underlying rift, though it has been reported by The Mirror that Jesy was made aware that Leigh-Anne is expecting.

Has Leigh-Anne commented on the speculations about a fall out?

Neither party has officially commented on the speculation that the pair have fallen out.

NationalWorld has contacted Jesy and Little Mix for comment.