Little Mix opens up about Jesy Nelson’s blackfishing

Publicizing their collection “Between Us”, the group Little Mix spoke to Stella magazine about the controversy of “blackfishing” involving former member Jesy Nelson. The trio said they broached the subject with her in a very educational and friendly way.

“We’ve been handling it the best way we know how, and we’ve helped each other out in this situation. We don’t want to talk about [Jessy’s Boyz] video or be critical, but one thing we’re going to clarify about the blackfishing situation is that Jesy was approached by the group in a very friendly and educational way” said Jade Thirlwall.

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The blackfishing happens when white people use makeup, hairstyles and costumes to look black or blended. Jesy Nelson was criticized for this in the video for “Boyz”, her solo debut, and said that Leigh-Anne Pinnock had already broached the subject with her also in the video for “Sweet Melody”. Nicki Minaj came to Jesy’s defense. In the interview, Leigh-Anne also commented on the case.

“Capitalizing aspects of blackness without having to endure the daily realities of black experience is problematic and harmful for people of color. We absolutely believe that it is not okay to use harmful stereotypes. There is so much to say about this subject that it is difficult to summarize in a catchphrase”, she pondered.

In an interview with Vulture, Jesy explained her point of view.

“The entire time I was on Little Mix I never got any of this. And then I left (the group) and people suddenly started saying that.

I wasn’t on social media at that time, so I let my team (handle it) because that was when I had just left”, she said.

“But I mean, like, I love black culture. I love black music. That’s all I know; that’s what I grew up with. I am very aware that I am a white British woman; I never said it wasn’t”, she added.