Jesy Nelson
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- Former Little Mix star Jesy Nelson has responded to accusations of blackfishing – a term used to refer to individuals who attempt to appear black or racially ambiguous.
- The singer received backlash and sparked debate around blackfishing after the release of her debut solo single, Boyz.
- “I love Black culture. I love Black music. That’s all I know; it’s what I grew up on,” Jesy told Vulture, adding: “I’m very aware that I’m a white British woman; I’ve never said that I wasn’t.”
Jesy Nelson has responded to accusations of blackfishing – a term used to refer to individuals who attempt to appear black or racially ambiguous, especially on public platforms where they may benefit from representing themselves in this manner.
The former Little Mix member faced backlash after the release of her debut solo single, Boyz. But this is not the first time these accusations have been aimed at her.
Speaking to Vulture, when asked if she understood the points being made about blackfishing, Jesy said she had never received any of these comments when she was still part of Little Mix. “And then I came out of [the band], and people all of a sudden were saying it. I wasn’t on social media around that time, so I let my team [deal with it], because that was when I’d just left.”
She added: “But I mean, like, I love Black culture. I love Black music. That’s all I know; it’s what I grew up on.
“I’m very aware that I’m a white British woman; I’ve never said that I wasn’t.”
When asked if she has changed how she acts or dresses, the singer said no, adding that she had merely returned to the person she used to be prior to joining Little Mix.
In a follow-up statement sent to the publication, Jesy said: “I take all those comments made seriously. I would never intentionally do anything to make myself look racially ambiguous, so that’s why I was initially shocked that the term was directed at me.”
Read the full interview here.
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