Jesy Nelson has delivered a startling revelation to Little Mix fans, asserting she was not the initial member to decide to exit the globally renowned girl group. Her candid disclosures, made in a new documentary series, are poised to ignite fervent speculation among the band's devoted following.
The 2019 Meeting That Changed Everything
Reflecting on her decision to depart in December 2020, Jesy pinpointed a pivotal meeting in 2019 as the first catalyst. She recounted how an unnamed member of the quartet—comprising herself, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Perrie Edwards, and Jade Thirlwall—declared an intention to quit.
"2019 was like, really happy times. I feel it was like we were just at the peak of our career," Jesy recalled. "To me, everyone was just in a good place. But actually, I was wrong."
She described an ominous预感 when summoned to a meeting, sensing it "wasn't going to be good." The news that one girl wished to leave left her feeling as if her "whole world had just fell apart." Jesy and bandmate Jade Thirlwall were reduced to tears on what she termed "a really sad day."
Withholding the Name
When pressed in her Prime Video series to identify the member who nearly quit, Jesy declined, stating, "I don't think that's for me to say, because they still haven't said. So that's not for me to say." This refusal ensures the mystery persists, fueling fan theories.
Jesy admitted her reaction was one of devastation, acknowledging she "probably didn't even handle it very well." She expressed regret at not offering the departing member adequate understanding or support in that moment, calling her own response "really selfish." Instead, her immediate thought was, "I need to mentally prepare myself now for Little Mix ending."
The Lockdown Interruption and Final Plans
Following the 2019 meeting, the group and management began planning a grand final tour. Jesy started bracing for the band's conclusion after a decade-long journey. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent national lockdown in 2020 disrupted these preparations, prolonging the inevitable.
Paradoxically, Jesy found solace in the lockdown's freedom, experiencing a respite from the anxiety and pressure of pop stardom. Returning to work later, she struggled to readjust to the spotlight. The repeatedly postponed final tour, which would ultimately stretch over two years, compounded other pressures, leading to her being the first to formally exit.
Mental Health Crisis and Hospitalisation
Shortly before her departure, Jesy's mental health deteriorated severely. She reached a crisis point, requiring her worried mother, Janice, to rush her to Accident and Emergency. "I just kept cuddling her and just can remember saying 'that's it now, that's it. No more. You've got to stop doing what's making unhappy'," her mother recounts in the series.
Jesy reflected, "I just was so sad, I was so down. I knew from that moment anyway, of coming out of hospital that I mentally couldn't do it." Before she could discuss her decision with her bandmates, her lawyer informed them of her wish to leave, a process she regrets. "So I think they felt really hurt by that, and it should never have played out like that," she said, feeling robbed of the chance to explain her reasons.
The Official Departure and Aftermath
In November 2020, Jesy announced an "extended" break from Little Mix for "private medical reasons," having missed key engagements including the final of the group's BBC talent show The Search and the MTV European Music Awards. By December, she confirmed her permanent exit, stating the band had "taken a toll on my mental health."
Her bandmates expressed support at the time, calling it "an incredibly sad time" but affirming, "we are fully supportive of Jesy." They emphasised prioritising her mental health and well-being.
After Jesy's departure, the remaining trio embarked on The Confetti Tour in 2022 before entering a hiatus, each pursuing solo careers. Jesy's revelations underscore the complex, behind-the-scenes struggles that preceded the group's fragmentation.
The series Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix is now available for streaming on Prime Video.
