Are Little Mix splitting up? Jesy Nelson fall out explained amid split rumours - and what Cut You Off is about

Split rumours started circulating following the controversy regarding ex-Little Mix star Jesy Nelson and ‘blackfishing’
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Rumours have been circulating that girl group Little Mix could be heading for a split, following the blackfishing controversy featuring ex-bandmate Jesy Nelson.

This is everything you need to know.

Where did the split rumours come from?

Rumours of the remaining bandmates splitting up have come after a source reportedly told The Sun that they planned to “turn to solo projects”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

They said: “They’ve been pretty open with each other about it. There are a lot of meetings happening at the moment.

“Some of them have already done management deals. Leigh-Anne [Pinnock] has signed up with Dua Lipa’s manager, Jade [Thirlwall] is cutting her teeth as a songwriter and presenter, while Perrie [Edwards] is working on other things too.

“They still get on great, despite everything that has happened with Jesy. But her departure put the cat among the pigeons.

“They all know there will have to be a career beyond Little Mix, so they’ve put things in place. The plan is to see out commitments, then turn to solo projects almost immediately.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The intention is to keep the band going too - but that’s how One Direction ended and it’s hard to believe they will have time for everything.”

Little Mix attending the Brit Awards 2021 at the O2 Arena (Photo: PA)Little Mix attending the Brit Awards 2021 at the O2 Arena (Photo: PA)
Little Mix attending the Brit Awards 2021 at the O2 Arena (Photo: PA)

The claims come after Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock has said she is “proud” and “overwhelmed” to make her big screen debut in a Christmas romantic comedy later this year.

Posting to Little Mix’s Twitter, she wrote: “Guys I’m going to be in a movie.

“I can’t tell you how proud and overwhelmed I feel right now! An all black cast Christmas RomCom… Boxing Day is Out December 3rd in cinemas!

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Please support and spread the word! I’m so flipping excited for this x Leigh.”

Why did the group fall out with Jesy Nelson?

Jesy Nelson had originally been a fourth member of Little Mix, which was created on the eight season of The X Factor in 2011. They were the first group to win the competition, and went on to become one of the biggest girl groups in the world, selling more than 50 million records across the globe.

Nelson left the band in December 2020, citing the reason as the toll being in the group had taken on her mental health.

Recently, Nelson debuted her first solo single, Boyz, featuring Nicki Minaj, however its release sparked accusations of “blackfishing”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Blackfishing is a term used to describe a non-Black person who tries to appear Black through the use of things like tanning, hairstyling, make up and more.

To promote the music video for the song, Nelson and Minaj teamed up on an Instagram live where the issue of blackfishing came up.

Jesy Nelson and Nicki Minaj appeared together in the music video for Boyz (Photo: YouTube)Jesy Nelson and Nicki Minaj appeared together in the music video for Boyz (Photo: YouTube)
Jesy Nelson and Nicki Minaj appeared together in the music video for Boyz (Photo: YouTube)

Nelson said: “My intention was never, ever, ever want to offend anyone and genuinely it actually does really hurt me that I may have offended people and actually, like, hurt people’s feelings just by genuinely celebrating something that I love.”

During her livestream with Minaj, Nelson implied that Pinnock had raised the issue of blackfishing with her in the past.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She said: “I was in a group with two women of colour for 10 years and it was never brought up to me until the last music video I did with them when Leigh-Anne messaged me.”

The current Little Mix members have all stopped following Nelson on Instagram.

At the start of October, Nelson admitted that she doesn’t speak with her former Little Mix bandmates any more.

She told Glamour UK: “I haven’t spoken to the girls.

“It is weird because for so many years we were as close as sisters, together every hour of the day for weeks, sharing beds, laughing, crying, just 24/7 the four of us together and then… nothing.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Asked if she has met the babies of Edwards and Pinnock – who both became mothers recently – Nelson said: “No. I’ve sent a few texts, but that’s it.

“I can’t explain it, it’s like there has to be this distance.

“We were so close so you can’t do in-between, there has to be space and hopefully… Hopefully at some point in the future we can all come back together.

“I love them. They are my sisters in so many ways, but for the time being we just don’t talk.”

Have Little Mix said anything about Jesy Nelson?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Pinnock, Thirwall and Edwards have not said anything publicly about Nelson regarding the release of her new music video.

Messages allegedly from Pinnock have leaked online, and show her reportedly accusing Nelson of blackfishing in the Boyz music video. However, whether these messages are actually real has not been confirmed.

After Minaj and Nelson appeared to make comments against Pinnock, fans have come together to support the singer with the hashtag #WeLoveYouLeigh on Twitter.

Many have said that while Nelson and Minaj have both independently advocated for mental health, it’s hypocritical for them to turn around and potentially damage Pinnock’s own mental health.

Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jade Thirlwall and Perrie Edwards arriving at the studios of Global Radio in London (Photo: PA)Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jade Thirlwall and Perrie Edwards arriving at the studios of Global Radio in London (Photo: PA)
Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jade Thirlwall and Perrie Edwards arriving at the studios of Global Radio in London (Photo: PA)
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

One person wrote: “Nicki: Preaches Mental Health when defending Jesy. Also Nicki: allowing the barbs to attack Leigh-Anne knowing damn well it could damage her mental health… The hypocrisy is blinding!”

Another tweeted: “Didn’t Jesy Nelson make a whole documentary about mental health yet, yet now Nicki Minaj and her are dragging Leigh-Anne on IG live??? F**king hypocrite.”

“Imagine #JesyNelson doing a documentary on mental health struggles then she sits on live with Nicki Minaj and pure slates the girls, especially Leigh-Anne. She should be ashamed, fully disgusting,” tweeted another.

Her mother, Debbie Pinnock, took to Twitter to thank fans for their support, writing: “#WeLoveYouLeigh thank you everyone” with kissing emojis.

Is their new song Cut You Off about Jesy Nelson?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The new song from the group, which has been revealed as the latest tune to be included on upcoming album Between Us, has had lots of people speculating that it is about their former bandmate.

However, the group has not said anything to that effect.

The lyrics go as follows:

[Verse 1: Leigh-Anne & Jade]

Everyone’s got a limit, rarely saw my life with you in it

So you walked right out (Walked right out)

Only now when I look back, got me pickin’ up on the red flags

Turn ‘em all white now (All white now)

[Pre-Chorus: Jade]

‘Cause you don’t wanna listen, you got me so triggered

Can’t be mad about it when you handed me the scissors (Oh)

Everyone’s got a limit, really pushed me there, now I’ve hit it

But I cut you off (Cut you off)

[Chorus: Perrie with All]

Someone tell me how

How did we get here? It used to be so good

Nothing lasts forever, but I really thought we could

I know there’ll be tears, but it’s worth a broken heart

If I can’t protect my energy, I gotta cut you off

[Post-Chorus: Jade]

I’ma, I’ma cut you off

I’ma, I’ma, I’ma c-cut you off

I’ma, I’ma cut you off

I’ma, I’ma, I’ma c-cut you off

[Verse 2: Leigh-Anne, Jade & Both]

Don’t think I believe ya, is grass out there really greener?

Are you happy now? (Are you happy now?)

I know you think you’re all that

It’ll be so sweet when you crawl back

But it’s too late now (Too late now)

[Pre-Chorus: Perrie]

‘Cause you don’t wanna listen, you got me so triggered

Can’t be mad about it when you handed me the scissors

[Chorus: Leigh-Anne with All, Perrie & Jade]

Someone tell me how

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

How did we get here? (Here) It used to be so good (Be so good)

Nothing lasts forever, but I really thought we could

I know there’ll be tears (There’ll be tears), but it’s worth a broken heart

If I can’t protect my energy, I gotta cut you off

[Post-Chorus: Perrie with Jade & Leigh-Anne]

I’ma, I’ma cut you off (Oh)

I’ma, I’ma, I’ma c-cut you off

I’ma, I’ma cut you off

I’ma, I’ma, I’ma c-cut you off

I’ma, I’ma cut you off

I’ma, I’ma, I’ma c-cut you off

I’ma, I’ma cut you off

I’ma, I’ma, I’ma c-

[Chorus: Jade & Perrie]

Someone tell me how

How did we get here? It used to be so good

Nothing lasts forever, but I really thought we could

I know there’ll be tears, but it’s worth a broken heart

If I can’t protect my energy, I’ve gotta do what’s best for me

I think I’m finally ready, to cut you off

Since yeah, Oh

[Post-Chorus: Jade, Leigh-Anne & Perrie]

I’ma, I’ma cut you off

I’ma, I’ma, I’ma c-cut you off (Off)

I’ma, I’ma cut you off (Yeah, I’ma)

I’ma, I’ma, I’ma c-cut you off

I’ma, I’ma cut you off

I’ma, I’ma, I’ma c-cut you off (Oh)

I’ma, I’ma cut you off

I’ma, I’ma, I’ma c-cut you off

A message from the editor: Thank you for reading. NationalWorld is a new national news brand, produced by a team of journalists, editors, video producers and designers who live and work across the UK. Find out more about who’s who in the team, and our editorial values. We want to start a community among our readers, so please follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and keep the conversation going. You can also sign up to our newsletters and get a curated selection of our best reads to your inbox every day.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.