Jesy Nelson Tears Up, Reveals Music Struggles Amid "Dark Stage"

Former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson has opened up about a "really dark stage" in her life that led her to question her music career. The 33-year-old singer became emotional during a recent livestream following the release of her latest single, "Mine," which features her partner, Zion Foster.

Nelson's solo career has been a rollercoaster ride since she left Little Mix in 2020. Her debut solo single, "Boyz," featuring Nicki Minaj, reached number four in the UK charts in 2021 but was met with controversy over accusations of "blackfishing."

Following the backlash, Nelson parted ways with her record label, Polydor, in 2022, with an insider telling the Mirror that they were heading in "different directions." Her subsequent single, "Bad Thing," released independently, failed to chart.

Despite the setbacks, Nelson has persevered and her latest single, "Mine," has been well received. During the livestream, she thanked fans for their unwavering support, expressing her gratitude for their belief in her.

"I feel like I'm getting emotional," Nelson confessed. "You will never understand how much your support means to me. Because I know it's been like, I don't even know. Obviously, I know I put 'Bad Thing' out but yous have waited so long for music."

She candidly revealed the struggles she faced, saying: "I'll just be real with you guys like I really, really struggled to like even want to put music out. Like, my confidence was really, really low at one point. I honestly felt like not doing it and just taking a back seat."

Nelson went on to describe a period of self-doubt and a desire to escape the pressures of her career. "And that's like why we went travelling, because I went through like a really dark stage when I was just like 'y'know what, like I just want to f**k this all off," she said. "I want to go travelling. I just wanna forget about everything and I just wanna come away from everything."

However, it was the support of her fans that ultimately reignited her passion for music. "Honestly, like it's you guys [that] make me like wanna do this," she said. "If I didn't have you guys, I wouldn't be doing music and I just can't thank you enough for like, genuinely, believing in me and making me believe in myself because I wouldn't if it wasn't for you guys. I think it's really rare to find a fanbase, family, like you guys."

Nelson concluded by expressing her appreciation for the unwavering support of her fanbase, even during periods when she was not releasing music. "Even when [I'm] not putting s**t out, you're still there," she said. "You're still like supporting, you're still messaging. And you actually care and that's what I love about you guys - you're not just like here for the music. You actually just like care as well and I just think that's really special. I don't know if I say it enough but I need you to know like how much I love you guys and I'm sorry for getting upset."

Her emotional confession highlights the challenges and pressures faced by artists, particularly when navigating the complexities of an independent career. Despite her struggles, Nelson's dedication to her craft and the unwavering support of her fans suggest that she is determined to continue pursuing her musical journey.