Jesy Nelson announced on Monday (Dec. 14) that she is leaving Little Mix to focus on her mental health.
“The truth is recently being in the band has really taken a toll on my mental health. I find the constant pressure of being in a girl group and living up to expectations very hard,” she shared in a statement. “There comes a time in life when we need to reinvest in taking care of ourselves rather than focussing [sic] on making other people happy, and I feel like now is the time to begin that process.”
“I need to spend some time with the people I love, doing things that make me happy,” she continued. “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.”
The U.K. girl group’s remaining members, Jade Thirlwall, Perrie Edwards and Leigh-Anne Pinnock tweeted their support for Nelson, noting that they will continue as a three-person band. “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,” they wrote. “We are still very much enjoying our Little Mix journey and the 3 of us are not ready for it to be over.”
Upon the devastating news, fans flooded social media will messages of heartbreak, but support for the singer as she focuses on her happiness.
See some reactions below.
