Jesy Nelson Accused Of Blackfishing In 'Boyz' Video, 'I Just Wanted To Celebrate'

Former Little Mix member Jesy Nelson has hit a bump in the road to solo stardom. The singer is having to apologize after the release of her single “Boyz” because she looked a little dark and was acting a little out of character for her.

However, the singer maintains that her solo debut was never meant to offend anyone, and she had what she must think is a great reason for allegedly appropriating the black culture.

Nelson’s debut track features rapper Nicki Minaj and the 30-year-old maintains that she had no intentions of offending anyone. In fact, she was trying to pay homage to the black culture. “I personally want to say that my intention was never, ever to offend people of color with this video and my song because like I said, growing up as a young girl, this is the music that I listened to.”

The singer, who appeared in an Instagram Live with the rapper went on to share her point of view. Nelson insisted that the darker skin tone and hairstyles she sported in the video had nothing to do with her trying to integrate herself into the black culture, it’s just what she knows.

“These are the videos that I watched and thought were the best,” pointing out that, “for me personally, ’90s R&B were the best years in music. I just wanted to celebrate that.”

Nelson, who went solo in 2020 after almost 10 years with the group maintains that she feels horrible about the reaction to her video for “Boyz”. “My intention was never, ever, ever want to offend anyone, and genuinely it actually does really hurt me that may have offended people and actually, like, hurt people’s feelings just by genuinely celebrating something that I love.”

Nelson also insisted that she didn't darken her skin tone and even goes as far as to claim that was “all-natural”. Insisting, “I’m just really lucky as a white girl that when I’m in the sun, I tan so dark.

She also claimed that her former group member Leigh-Anne Pinnock was also confused about her race because of how dark she gets when she tans. “Like, so many people have said to me before, like Leigh-Anne [Pinnock] in the group, has said, ‘You sure you’re, like, not mixed race? Because you’ve gotten darker than me in the sun.”

In case you have not seen the video, Nelson is featured in a number of outfits that fans are claiming resemble looks that rappers like Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown have worn. However, they are more pressed about the accessories along with the look.

The singer all of a sudden after essentially 10 years (that fans know of ) of bone straight hair, had fluffy, tight curls, that, coupled with the darker skin tone, and other enhanced body parts, had fans confused AF.

“I wanted to come on this live today as well and show everyone my hair is naturally curly. I’ve always had curly hair. I got it from my dad.” Nelson insisted that she didn’t think she was doing anything wrong.

After the backlash from the video, all her former band members unfollowed her. But, the “Seeing Green” rapper stood by her side and called out the girl group for basically abandoning their so-called friend.

“Let her enjoy this time. If you was in this group and haven’t talked about this s—t for 10 years … if you want a solo career, baby girl, just say that. … If that’s how you felt, why were you kiki’ing with her and being in videos with her for 10 years?”