In a deeply personal and emotional new documentary series, former Little Mix member Jesy Nelson has revealed she attempted to take her own life just days before quitting the globally successful girl group. The 34-year-old singer opened up about her mental health struggles and the circumstances surrounding her 2020 departure from the band in "Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix," which premiered on Prime Video on February 13.
Overwhelming Loneliness and Cry for Help
Jesy Nelson described feeling "really alone" during her final days with Little Mix, claiming her bandmates Perrie Edwards, Jade Thirlwall, and Leigh-Anne Pinnock ignored her desperate cry for help leading up to her overdose. This marked the second time Jesy had attempted suicide, following a previous overdose in 2013 that she discussed in her BBC documentary "Jesy Nelson: Odd One Out."
The Painful Breakdown of Communication
Speaking about the days before her suicide attempt, Jesy recalled a particularly painful conversation with her bandmates. "I sat everyone down to explain how I was feeling," she remembered, "and I remember one of the responses being, 'Are you done now? Is that it?' She was like, 'Can I go now?' That made me feel really alone. I felt like there was no point. That no one cared."
Jesy explained her emotional state at the time, saying, "I was so sad. I was so down. I knew after coming out of hospital that I mentally couldn't do it [be in the band] any more." She had felt "trapped and miserable" for much of her time in Little Mix, which ultimately led to her decision to leave the group.
Mother's Intervention and Hospital Recovery
It was Jesy's mother Janice who raised the alarm after Jesy fell unconscious while on the phone with her. Janice described noticing warning signs in the days leading up to the incident. "For a few days before, she had just been really down and not talking much. She wanted to be on her own quite a lot," Janice explained.
"I got a gut feeling that something wasn't right. I kept ringing and ringing, but there was no answer. She eventually answered the phone and the way she was talking was really slurry. I heard the phone drop and didn't hear anything else - I knew she'd done something."
Family Perspective on Band Dynamics
Speaking about the breakdown of Little Mix's friendship, Janice claimed the band "wasn't there" for Jesy during her lowest moments. "I can see why they [the other Little Mix members] did get angry at times," Janice acknowledged. "It's hard to work with someone who is always down when you are always happy. But I personally believe that at Jesy's lowest of low times, the girls were not really there for her and I think that's why she's so sad now."
After Jesy's second suicide attempt, Janice said she told her daughter, "Right, that's it now. No more. You've got to stop doing what makes you unhappy." It was during her hospital recovery that Jesy made the definitive decision to quit Little Mix.
Professional Fallout and Awkward Conversations
At the time of Jesy's overdose, she was scheduled to appear in the final of Little Mix's BBC talent show "The Search." Host Chris Ramsey told fans that Jesy had fallen ill, explaining her sudden absence from the program. After seeking legal advice, Jesy said her lawyers delivered the news of her departure to her bandmates.
"I think they felt really hurt about that and it should never have played out like that," Jesy reflected. "I didn't get my opportunity to explain why I couldn't do this any more. I feel mad that that was taken away from me."
The Final Communication Breakdown
When Jesy attempted to reconnect with her bandmates after her hospital stay, she received a surprising response. "I got myself up mentally and was like, right, I want to have a chat with the girls now," she explained. "I wanna chat to them and tell them why I did what I did, like how I've been feeling. Just really explain to them, try to make them understand how I was feeling."
"And then my manager called, and she was like, 'so I've spoke to the girls and they are happy to chat to you, but they don't feel comfortable being in a room with you unless there is a therapist there.' I just remember being like, 'what? I've just come out of hospital, like this is the time I need you the most.' I don't know, I just didn't feel like they were my sisters."
The eventual phone call proved deeply uncomfortable for all involved. "It was really awkward and so weird," Jesy recalled. "It was like talking to strangers. It was the most uncomfortable phone call of my life. No one knew what to say. And that's the last time I ever spoke to them as a group. It's been five years now and every time I think about it, I think, was it them or was it the management? I'll never know."
Looking Toward the Future
Later in the documentary series, Jesy was asked if she ever sees herself reuniting with Little Mix. "I really don't know," she responded. "I see both sides. I see why they would be sad and hurt."
She did reveal a positive development, noting, "They reached out to me when I was pregnant, it was lovely because I never thought that would happen. It made me really emotional. We're grown women now, we've got kids, and I just think there are so many more important things in life. It's just one of those things that need to be put to bed now."
The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Little Mix members Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and Jade Thirlwall for comment regarding the revelations in Jesy Nelson's documentary. "Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix" remains available for streaming on Prime Video, offering an intimate look at the singer's journey through mental health challenges and her life beyond the chart-topping girl group.
