In a move that was somewhat inevitable given the circumstances, Jesy Nelson announced her intention to leave girl band Little Mix permanently last night.
It follows on from the 29-year-old's decision to step away from the band for 'personal health reasons' several weeks ago.
Nelson released a statement on Instagram announcing her decision and revealing that although being in the band had brought her much happiness, it had recently taken a toll on her mental health. "I find the constant pressure of being in a girl group and living up to expectations very hard," she wrote. "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."
Nelson has struggled with online bullying in the past, with her BBC documentary 'Odd One Out' revealing that she had attempted suicide after vicious bullying by online trolls.
In the past, Little Mix have cancelled gigs because she was "unwell and unable to perform."
Here's hoping that she gets the help she needs.
View this post on Instagram
The band put out their own statement, saying "After an amazing 9 years together Jesy has made the decision to leave Little Mix. This is an incredibly sad time for all of us but we are fully supportive of Jesy. We love her very much and agree that it is so important that she does what is right for her mental health and well-being.
We are still very much enjoying our Little Mix journey and the 3 of us are not ready for it to be over. We know that Jesy leaving the group is going to be really upsetting news for our fans. We love you guys so much and are so grateful for your loyalty and continued support of all of us. We’re looking forward to seeing so many of you on tour.
Love always,
Jade, Perrie and Leigh-Anne xxx"
View this post on Instagram
Here's how fans reacted to the news:
for Jesy to put her mental health first, is super important. She must have struggled with this decision💔 ... Sending Jesy so much love😭 im actually so sad😞 #JesyNelson #WeLoveYouJesy pic.twitter.com/60Gze7gKp4
— 💫chaaalotte💫 (@itzchaaarlotte) December 14, 2020
Massive respect for @LittleMix Jesy Nelson 🙌🏽 To leave something so familiar behind and jump into the unknown is scary and something I feel but can’t do myself. She leads by example putting #mentalhealth first! #littlemix #JesyNelson #MentalHealthMatters
— Christopher Lambert (@TopperLambert) December 14, 2020
****
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, help is always available. Contact Samaritans 24/7 here.
