Little Mix, once one of the world’s most successful girl groups, has seen its original lineup drift apart following Jesy Nelson’s departure in 2020.
Little Mix win the X Factor in 2011
Little Mix burst onto the scene in 2011 after winning The X Factor and quickly became one of the most successful girl groups of all time.
The original lineup consisted of Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jade Thirlwall, and Perrie Edwards. Together, they released multiple chart-topping albums and singles, earning worldwide recognition for their talent, powerful performances, and girl-power anthems. However, behind the glitz and glamour, cracks were beginning to show, ultimately leading to a bitter fallout and individual pursuits that have left their future as a group uncertain.
The first major shift came in December 2020, when Jesy Nelson announced she was leaving Little Mix. She cited her mental health as the main reason for her departure, revealing the pressures of fame had taken a toll on her well-being. Jesy had always been open about her struggles with body image and online trolling, and her decision to step away from the band was met with support from her bandmates.
The remaining members – Leigh-Anne, Jade, and Perrie – expressed their understanding, with Perrie stating that Jesy’s health came first and they respected her decision. Jesy’s exit left the trio to continue as Little Mix, and while they assured fans they would continue making music, it marked the beginning of the end of an era.
In the wake of Jesy’s departure, the group continued to release music, including their album Confetti, and they performed as a trio for the first time on stage. However, in December 2021, they announced a hiatus following their Confetti tour. In a statement, the band made it clear that this was not a breakup.
The band took to social media to announce they were stepping back from working together. In a Twitter/X statement, they wrote: “It’s been 10 amazing years, a wonderful non-stop adventure, and we feel the time is right to take a break so we can recharge and work on some other projects.”
They insisted at the time: “We are not splitting up – Little Mix are here to stay.” As time passed, it became evident that the members were pursuing their own paths. Leigh-Anne Pinnock, who had long been an advocate for diversity and representation, started to focus on acting and fashion.
Jade Thirlwall has collaborated with various artists while championing social causes, and Perrie Edwards, now a mother, has embraced her new role and launched a fashion line. Jesy, focused on her solo career, worked on duets with ex-boyfriend Zion Foster but has since stopped him from releasing the music after their split.
Speculation grew about tensions within Little Mix after photos emerged in July 2020 showing the band members looking distant following rehearsals. Jesy, Jade, and Leigh-Anne were seen walking separately, with Jesy having an animated conversation with Jade, while Leigh-Anne appeared on her phone. Perrie was absent, having left 15 minutes earlier. The snaps were taken just after the group returned to work promoting their single Holiday, their first release after a four-month break.
In 2021, Jesy faced backlash for her Boyz music video, with accusations of blackfishing due to her dark tan and braided hair. Leigh-Anne was accused of stoking the fire after liking a TikTok criticizing Jesy for her appearance. Tensions seemed to rise further when messages allegedly from Leigh-Anne’s Instagram were leaked, where she slammed Jesy. TikTok sensation NoHun revealed a string of screenshotted messages to him from a user claiming to be Leigh-Anne.
The chart-topper’s account also appears to suggest to the content creator that he should create a video on solo singer Jesy blackfishing. NoHun shared a screengrab of the text message chat – which there is no confirmation that it is legitimate – to unveil a message from Leigh-Anne claiming Jesy blocked her, Jade and Perrie on social media and calling her a “horrible person.” Jesy later responded to the blackfishing backlash saying that she is “aware she is a white British woman”. Although none of the members have officially confirmed a disbandment, Perrie, Jade, and Leigh-Anne still seem to be in contact, engaging with Little Mix fans. However, their individual pursuits have become their primary focus.
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