Jesy Nelson emotionally breaks silence after quitting Little Mix to focus on her mental health
BILBAO, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 04: Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jesy Nelson, Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall of Little Mix. Nelson quit the group in December. (Gareth Cattermole/MTV 2018/Getty)
Former Little Mix star Jesy Nelson has broken her silence to thank fans for their love and support after her shock departure from the group.
Nelson revealed that she was putting her Little Mix days behind her on Monday (14 December), saying fame had taken a toll on her mental health.
Her heartbreaking admission that the “constant pressure” of being in a girl group had become too much for her prompted an outpouring of love and support. Three days later, Nelson returned to social media to thank fans.
“I just want to say thank you so much to everyone of you that has shown me so much love and support over the past few days some of your messages have made me feel so emotional and I appreciate it so much love you all,” Nelson wrote on an Instagram story Thursday (17 December), along with a heart emoji.
Jesy Nelson thanks Little Mix bandmates for ‘most amazing memories’.
Little Mix fans were left reeling on Monday (14 December) when Jesy Nelson revealed that she would not be returning to the group.
In the statement, shared on Instagram, Nelson said her nine years in Little Mix were “the most incredible time of my life”, but touched on the unrelenting pressure of life in the spotlight
“The truth is recently being in the band has really taken a toll on my mental health,” she wrote.
“I find the constant pressure of being in a girl group and living up to expectations very hard.
“There comes a time in life when we need to reinvest in taking care of ourselves rather than focussing on making other people happy, and I feel like now is the time to begin that process.”
She continued: “I need to spend some time with the people I love, doing things that make me happy. I’m ready to embark on a new chapter in my life – I’m not sure what it’s going to look like right now, but I hope you’ll still be there to support me.”
Nelson closed out her emotional statement by thanking her bandmates for “creating some of the most amazing memories”.
The remaining members of the girl group confirmed that they will continue as a three piece, saying Jesy’s departure marked “an incredibly sad time” for them.
Jesy Nelson spoke candidly about the toll fame had taken on her in her 2019 documentary Odd One Out.
She opened up about an attempted suicide brought about by incessant online trolling.
The documentary broke viewing records for BBC Three and won Nelson a National Television Award.
