Ex-Little Mix star accused of ‘trying to appear black’
POP star Jesy Nelson has said she never intended to cause offence after being accused of ‘blackfishing’ in her latest music video.
The former Little Mix singer, 30, was criticised on social media for her appearance in the video for Boyz, her debut solo track.
Miss Nelson was accused of blackfishing – the practice of a non-black person trying to appear black – but has said she had been to Antigua in the weeks before the video shoot which explained her darker skin tone. The comments came after reports that her former bandmate Leigh-Anne Pinnock had warned her about blackfishing.
During an Instagram Live stream with rapper Nicki Minaj, who features on Boyz, Miss Nelson said: ‘I personally want to say that my intention was never, ever to offend people of colour with this video and my song because like I said, growing up as a young girl, this is the music that I listened to.
‘These are the videos that I watched and thought were the best. For me personally, 90s/2000 hip hop, R&B music was the best era of music.’ Miss Nelson said she is fortunate to easily tan when in the sun and her hair is naturally curly, after complaints she had changed her style in the Boyz music video.
Addressing the alleged comments from Miss Pinnock about blackfishing, she said: ‘It’s just hard for me because I was in a group with two women of colour for nine years and it was never brought up to me up until the last music video I did with them.’
Miss Minaj defended Miss Nelson and appeared to aim several barbs at the members of Little Mix.
Writing on social media after the livestream, Miss Minaj said: ‘Don’t call things out when they benefit your personal vendetta to people. Call them out immediately once you see it. Don’t wait a decade after you’ve made millions with the person.’
Miss Nelson left Little Mix last December, citing the toll that being in the band had had on her mental health.