Why has Jesy Nelson left Little Mix and have the band split up?
14 December 2020, 18:16 | Updated: 14 December 2020, 18:19
Have Little Mix split up? And why is Jesy Nelson leaving the band?
Jesy Nelson has shared a statement revealing she has left Little Mix.
The star sparked concern among fans last month after she was absent from group appearances.
But now 29-year-old Jesy has confirmed she will no longer be working alongside Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jade Thirlwall and Perrie Edwards.
So why has she left the band and has Little Mix split up?
Why has Jesy Nelson left Little Mix?
Jesy Nelson has left Little Mix due to mental health struggles.
In an emotional statement, Jesy said she had made her decision 'after much consideration and with a heavy heart'.
She wrote on Instagram: "To all my Mixers, the past nine years in Little Mix has been the most incredible time of my life. We have achieved things I never thought possible. From winning our first Brit Award to our sold out shows at the O2.
“Making friends and fans all over the world I can't thank you all enough from the bottom of my heart for making me fee like the luckiest girl in the world. You have always been there to support and encourage me and I will never ever forget it.
“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.
“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.
“So after much consideration and with a heavy heart, I'm announcing I'm leaving Little Mix.
"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."
The 29-year-old went on to thank her fans and fellow Little Mixers adding: "Most of all I want to say thank you to Jade, Perrie and Leigh-Anne for creating some of the most amazing memories I'll never forget. I hope that you'll continue to fulfil all of your dreams and keep on making music that people love. Love Jesy x."
Have Little Mix split up?
Little Mix have not split up, with Perrie, Leigh-Anne and Jade continuing as a three-piece,.
The girls shared their own statement on Instagram, writing: "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."
This comes after Little Mix fans spotted Jesy's signature was missing from signed copies of the groups's new album Confetti.
She had been absent from recent performances, including the final of the band's television talent show Little Mix The Search and the MTV European Music Awards (EMAs).
Meanwhile, Jesy was praised last year for discussing her mental health battle on the BBC Three documentary Jesy Nelson: Odd One Out.
The documentary addressed body image and the impact of online bullying and won a National Television Award.
Now Read: Little Mix: The Search: Find all the groups and contestants on Instagram
