NICKI GETS IN THE MIX ON RACE ROW
Rapper slams star’s alleged ‘blackfish’ jibe
ASHLEIGH RAINBIRD
NICKI Minaj has called Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock a “clown” over alleged comments about a race row involving her former bandmate Jesy Nelson. Jesy, 30, has been accused of trying to appear darker skinned in the video for Boyz, her collaboration with US rapper Nicki. Social media messages, which a fan claims are from mixed-race Leigh-Anne, 30, appeared to show her accusing Jesy of “blackfishing”. But Jesy insists her tan is natural, from a holiday in Antigua. Nicki, 38, has waded into the row online, saying of Leigh-Anne: “That person has to wear a big red clown nose and big clown boots because you’re a big f***ing clown.” Of the purported leaked messages, Nicki advised Leigh-Anne to “shove them up your a**” and said: “Don’t try to ruin anyone. Let her enjoy this time. “You haven’t talked about this s*** for 10 years, now she’s got a song out with Puffy [P Diddy] and Nicki, you’re sending text messages... stop trying to hurt people and kill people’s careers.”
Jesy thanked Nicki for her support, and added: “I tan so dark. Leigh-Anne even said to me: ‘Are you sure you’re not mixed race?
“You go darker than me in the sun, that’s crazy.’”
Jesy quit Little Mix last year, making it a trio with Jade Thirlwall and Perrie Edwards. She confirmed that LeighAnne – who filmed critically acclaimed documentary Race, Pop & Power for the BBC – did speak to her about the subject during their final video shoot.
Jesy has said she is “aware she is a white British woman”.
She also said: “I would never intentionally do anything to make myself look racially ambiguous, so that’s why
“I was shocked that the term was directed at me.”
Representatives for Leigh-Anne have been approached for comment.