Jesy Nelson has hit back at claims her debut album has been delayed following her recent controversy.
The former Little Mix star released her debut single ‘Boyz’ earlier this month, and came under fire for the music video, as many accused her of altering her appearance to seem Black or racially ambiguous – otherwise known as “blackfishing”
The Sun reported that the release of her upcoming album had been pushed back until 2022 following the scandal but according to MailOnline, the singer was never planning on releasing the record this year.
A source told the outlet: “To claim that an album would be released after one single release is literally laughable and obviously was never part of the plan.”
“Jesy is still in the studio recording new music and a second single is in the works. Anybody working in the music industry knows that an album would never follow one single release.”
“Jesy has been subject to severe trolling over the past couple of weeks and has kept a dignified silence despite the vindictive swipes against her.”
The insider also claimed that “the last thing” Jesy wanted was to be embroiled in a feud with her former Little Mix bandmates.
They explained: “The Girls have been through a lot together and she truly believes everyone can co-exist in the industry without the war of words. The fans deserve better. It’s all getting a bit much.”
An official spokesperson from Jesy’s record label Polydor backed up claims there was no album planned for this year, saying: “An album was never planned for Jesy Nelson in 2021 and therefore these claims are untrue.”
Jesy addressed the blackfishing claims during a recent interview with Vulture, saying: “The whole time I was in Little Mix I never got any of that. And then I came out of [the band] and people all of a sudden were saying it.”
“I wasn’t on social media around that time, so I let my team [deal with it], because that was when I’d just left.”
“But I mean, like, I love Black culture. I love Black music. That’s all I know; it’s what I grew up on. I’m very aware that I’m a white British woman; I’ve never said that I wasn’t.”
In a separate statement addressing the accusations, Jesy added: “I take all those comments made seriously.”
“I would never intentionally do anything to make myself look racially ambiguous, so that’s why I was initially shocked that the term was directed at me.”
Amid the controversy, messages between Instagram user @nohun_ and Jesy’s former Little Mix bandmate Leigh-Anne Pinnock were leaked.
According to screenshots posted online, Leigh-Anne allegedly asked NoHun to make a video about Jesy “being a black fish”.
The alleged messages from Leigh-Anne also accused Jesy of blocking her and her Little Mix bandmates, Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall, on social media.
Nicki Minaj, who collaborated with Jesy for her track ‘Boyz’ then weighed in on the drama during an Instagram Live.
The rapper said: “Sweetheart, take them text messages and shove it up your f***ing ass, because when you do clown shit I got to treat you and talk to you like you a clown.”
“If you was in this woman’s group and you ain’t talk about this s**t for 10 years, and as soon as you see she got a video coming out with Nicki Minaj and Puffy, now you sending text messages and all this shit…”
“Print those text messages out, bust your ass open and shove them up your motherf***ing ass.”
“Stop trying to hurt people and kill people’s lives and careers, this is the way people feed their families. Stop – if you want a solo career, baby girl, just say that.”
The rapper continued: “You can go out and put your own music. We’re gonna support you and love you. That’s it. You don’t have to attack someone else. If that’s how you felt, why were you kiki’ing with her and being in the videos with her for 10 years?”
“Now, all of a sudden she’s not in a video with you, you have some negative, evil thing to do and say? Stop. Only jealous people do things like this. It makes you a big jealous bozo. I love you guys but please don’t do this. Let these people be miserable all by themselves.”
Jesy, who was also on the Instagram Live, didn’t say anything during Nicki’s rant, but occasionally laughed at some of her comments.
Nicki then took to Twitter to slam Leigh-Anne even further, writing: “JeLeigh btchs actin real messy…”
“If you know someone has been suicidal from bullying in the past, why try to get a bunch of ppl to bully them again about smthng else, on an even bigger scale? Shame on you— that’s rlly sad. You don’t know what ppl can deal with.”
Days later, Leigh-Anne broke down in tears at her 30th birthday party as she defended her character during an emotional speech.
The mum-of-two said through tears: “I know my character, you know my character, anyone that meet me knows my f***ing character. That’s all I care about.”
“I’m so proud of everything I’ve achieved. I’ve got the most beautiful fiancé who I’m still pretty much obsessed with after five years, and the two most beautiful, perfect f***king babies.”
Read more: Everything you need to know about the Little Mix and Jesy Nelson feud.
