Jesy Nelson Breaks Her Silence on Little Mix Departure in New Documentary
Jesy Nelson has revealed that she has been "carrying the weight" of her decision to leave Little Mix for a "long time". The singer, now 34, is set to unveil the full story behind her exit from the chart-topping girl group in her upcoming Amazon Prime documentary, titled Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix. In a recent Q&A session ahead of the documentary's release on February 13, Jesy teased the emotional revelations that await viewers.
Why Now Is the Time to Speak Out
Explaining why she chose this moment to share her truth, Jesy stated, "I have never really said anything. I have always stayed quiet because—I don't actually know why I stayed quiet. I've just never said anything, and this felt like the time to tell my story." She elaborated that the documentary delves into deeply personal topics, including her childhood, her father, and the reasons for her departure from Little Mix, which she has never discussed publicly before. "It was really tough," she admitted.
Jesy also addressed what she perceives as a false narrative surrounding her exit, fueled by certain interviews and media coverage. "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," she explained. She expressed hope that this documentary will finally put the matter to rest, noting, "I feel like I have been carrying that weight for a really long time, but who knows. It was the most vulnerable time in my life, but like I said it's like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders and this is my truth."
Reflecting on Little Mix's Legacy and Friendship
Jesy quit Little Mix after nine years, citing the pressures of fame and mental health struggles as key factors in her shock decision. The band, formed by music mogul Simon Cowell on the now-defunct ITV show The X Factor in 2011, made history as the first group to win the competition. They went on to achieve five number-one singles and sell an incredible 75 million singles worldwide.
Despite rumors of a six-year feud with her former bandmates—Perrie Edwards, Jade Thirlwall, and Leigh-Anne Pinnock—Jesy emphasized the strong bond they shared. "When I got to reflect on all the amazing times I had in Little Mix and you see footage of Little Mix that no one has ever seen before, and you just see how beautiful our friendship was and the reason why Little Mix was so big because we really were best friends and that was so lovely for me to reminisce," she said. She acknowledged that the end was difficult but reminded fans of their decade-long camaraderie: "There was the s*** part at the end, but people forget we were together for nearly 10 years, and the majority of those times were f***ing incredible and we were, we were best mates."
Documentary Highlights and Personal Journey
The documentary series also covers what Jesy describes as the "most painful" period of her life, charting her journey to motherhood. She faced pregnancy complications, including Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome, and gave birth to twin daughters, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe. In the trailer, Jesy is seen 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."
A montage of clips from her Little Mix days shows Jesy breaking down in tears and sitting out of group dance practices, highlighting the emotional toll of her time in the band. "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.
Life After Little Mix and Band Dynamics
After leaving the band, Jesy embarked on a solo career, releasing singles such as Boyz, Bad Thing, and Mine, before eventually stepping away from the spotlight. The remaining members of Little Mix—Jade, Perrie, and Leigh-Anne—went on hiatus in 2022 to pursue solo projects. While the trio have publicly supported each other, their relationship with Jesy has been described as frosty, with Jesy revealing in 2023 that she had not spoken to the girls since her departure.
This documentary promises to offer an intimate look at Jesy's experiences, shedding light on the challenges of fame, mental health, and the complexities of band dynamics in the music industry.
