Jesy Nelson has extended an olive branch to her former Little Mix bandmates following their highly publicised fallout, as she prepares to share her side of the story in a revealing new documentary. The singer, who officially quit the chart-topping girl group in December 2020 after nine years, cited the severe impact on her mental health as the primary reason for her departure.
Reaching Out After Years of Silence
During a recent appearance on Great Company, Jesy made significant moves toward reconciliation with Perrie Edwards, Jade Thirlwall and Leigh-Anne Pinnock. While reminiscing about their time together, she acknowledged the complex nature of her Little Mix experience. "I had some really s*** times in Little Mix, but also some of the best times of my life," Jesy confessed candidly. "They were my best mates, we had so much fun. It's way more powerful being in a band than being solo."
The Weight of Family Responsibility
The singer revealed that family pressures played a substantial role in her initial decision to remain with the group. "I stayed in the band for my brother who essentially wanted me to make cash to support the family," she explained. "Leaving was hard." This admission provides new insight into the personal struggles that accompanied her public career with one of Britain's most successful girl groups.
Breaking Her Silence in New Documentary
Jesy will comprehensively address her departure from Little Mix in her forthcoming Amazon Prime documentary, Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix, scheduled for release on February 13. Speaking ahead of the documentary's premiere, she explained her decision to finally speak openly about her experiences. "I have never really said anything. I have always stayed quiet because - I don't actually know why I stayed quiet," Jesy revealed during a Tuesday Q and A session.
"I've just never said anything, and this felt like the time to tell my story. I speak about my childhood, my dad, the reasons why I left Little Mix, which I have never, ever spoken about. It was really tough," she continued. The documentary promises to address what Jesy describes as "a constant narrative" about her departure that she believes has been misrepresented in previous interviews.
Seeking Closure and Reconciliation
"There's been a constant narrative about me and certain interviews where people have spoke and I believe gave a false narrative of why I left, so this was my turn to say my truth and why I left," Jesy stated. "But I also really hope that it gets put to bed after this because I feel like I have been carrying that weight for a really long time." She described the documentary process as lifting a weight from her shoulders, calling it "the most vulnerable time in my life."
Reflecting on the aftermath of her departure, Jesy acknowledged the difficult period that followed. "What was really lovely - because when I left it was a big explosion and all the headlines and narratives; it felt like quite a dark cloud over Little Mix."
Motherhood Brings Perspective and Healing
The birth of Jesy's twin daughters, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe, has profoundly changed her perspective on reconciliation. The singer credits motherhood with healing parts of her she "never thought was possible," particularly following her daughters' recent diagnosis with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1, a life-threatening condition.
Speaking to The Sun about potential reconciliation with her former bandmates, Jesy expressed optimism. "We're all mums now and I can't speak on behalf of them, but I'd like to think that we probably see things a lot differently now. I think you do, just as you get older anyway, but you know, never say never. I have so much love for them and always will. So never say never [to a reconciliation]."
Healing Rifts Beyond the Band
Jesy has also mended her relationship with music mogul Simon Cowell, who originally formed Little Mix on The X Factor in 2011. The group made history as the first band to win the competition and went on to achieve five number ones while selling an incredible 75 million singles worldwide. "He called me, he reached out to me when I had the girls' diagnosis," Jesy revealed about Cowell. "We had a good long old chat and we actually spoke about his new Netflix show. I did watch it and I actually really enjoyed it."
Documentary Reveals Personal Struggles
The forthcoming documentary series promises an intimate look at what Jesy describes as "the most painful" time of her life. The trailer opens with the singer looking out at an empty stadium as she says: "I have never spoken about this. I just always wanted to entertain people. It felt magical and then it very quickly isn't. I have just always stayed quiet. I was the one that left."
Viewers will see montages from her Little Mix days, including emotional moments where Jesy breaks down in tears and sits out of group dance practices. "I've really struggled keeping all of this in... Now I'm ready to tell my side of the story," she declares in the trailer.
Pregnancy Complications and Health Battles
The documentary also documents Jesy's challenging pregnancy journey, including her diagnosis with Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome and the moment she and her ex-fiancé Zion Foster were told there was only a 5% chance their daughters would survive to birth. Scenes from her three-month hospital stay show Jesy weeping: "I hate that my body is letting me down."
Her mother, Janice, comments after witnessing her daughter's terrifying pregnancy journey: "If something was to go wrong now. I dread to think what it would be like" - unaware of the diagnosis that would follow her daughters' birth.
Campaigning for Newborn Screening
Following her daughters' diagnosis with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 - considered the most severe form of SMA with symptoms including extreme muscle weakness, swallowing difficulties and respiratory issues - Jesy has become an advocate for newborn screening. She has started a petition to get the condition added to the newborn blood spot screening test, commonly known as the heel prick test.
The documentary synopsis reads: "Expecting twins, Jesy opens up about the joy, vulnerability, and fear that comes with carrying two little lives. The series follows Jesy through the emotional rollercoaster of pregnancy complications, including Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome, a rare and potentially life-threatening condition."
A New Chapter Begins
"With weekly hospital visits, candid conversations, and the unwavering support of her loved ones, Jesy navigates the highs and lows of pregnancy, confronting her deepest fears while embracing a newfound strength," the description continues. "But this journey isn't just about motherhood; she needs to confront her past, too. In this series, she will open up about the life-altering decision to leave Little Mix in 2020, breaking her silence on the relentless pressures of fame, her battle with mental health, and the controversies that followed."
Ahead of the documentary's release, Jesy told Amazon: "We opened the doors fully, and I'm really looking forward to letting you all in as I navigate my way to becoming a first-time mum to our beautiful baby girls, Ocean and Story. I'll be honest, it's not been easy as it's been such a high-risk pregnancy, so you'll see all the highs and lows and rollercoaster of emotions we have been going through."
"I hope you will all join me on this journey as I really open up and say goodbye to the past and enter this new chapter in my life. I hope you love it as much as we do," she concluded, signaling both closure with her past and optimism for her future as a mother and advocate.
