Jesy Nelson announced in December 2020 that she had quit the music group Little Mix. Now, she's opening up about exactly what led to her decision to leave the successful girl group.
In a recent interview with The Guardian, Nelson revealed her mental health struggles, and how bullying during her time in the spotlight took a toll on her. She recalled several negative comments she read about her physical appearance (particularly, her face and weight) and told The Guardian:
"When you've never had any issues with your face and then realize people are saying these things about you...you think if everybody is saying it, it must be true."
But it was a tweet from Katy Hopkins following a performance that led to her breaking point. At the time, the journalist tweeted, "Packet Mix have still got a chubbier in their ranks." Fans saw were enraged by this tweet, especially after Nelson mentioned it in her documentary, Odd One Out.
However, even though fans defended her, Nelson said that she didn't see a point anymore. She recalled thinking, "I've starved myself for a week and I'm still getting called fat...this is never going to go away." She then spiralled into a depression. She told The Guardian that the pressure of being in the group led her to having panic attacks. Things got so bad that Nelson, at one point, contemplated suicide.
She announced in December 2020 that she would be leaving the group, and said in her most recent interview regrding the departure: "I do think there comes a time in life when you do have to be selfish and look after yourself, and it was really affecting me mentally."
At the time, fans stood by her, showing support in tweets and hope for her return one day.
Nelson also stated that she would like to see shows, such as The X-Factor and other high-profile TV competitions, better preparing their contestants for the stresses and pressures that come with fame.
In 2011, Little Mix became the first group to win the televised singing competition, The X-Factor. The group went on to become one of the best-selling groups of the past decade, selling over 60 million albums and singles worldwide. They also won several Brit Awards and MTV Europe Music Awards.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, please see this list of resources for help.