Jesy Nelson responds to accusations of blackfishing
Jesy Nelson has responded to accusations of, 'blackfishing,' following her debut solo single release.
The term is used when someone changes their appearance to look like they have black heritage or are racially ambiguous.
According to Vulture, many believe Jesy is, 'disingenuously using the aesthetics of Black women and R&B to introduce her solo era.'
When asked her thoughts on this, she said, 'The whole time I was in Little Mix I never got any of that.'
'And then I came out of [the band] and people all of a sudden were saying it.'
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'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.'
'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.'
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'I’m just 100 percent being myself'
Jesy was asked if she believes she's changed how she acts or dresses, and she said, 'No, not at all.'
'I’m just 100 percent being myself,' the artist insisted.
'If you look at me on X Factor with my big curly hair, I was wearing trainers and combats — that’s who I am as an artist and as Jesy.'
She continued, 'Now I’m out of Little Mix, I’ve gone back to being who I am.'
'Like I said, I don’t ever want to be an artist who’s being told what to wear or what music to make.'
'I want to be authentic and true to myself, and if people don’t like that, don’t be my fan. Don’t be a part of my journey.'
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In a follow-up statement after the interview, Jesy said she would, 'never intentionally do anything to make [herself] look racially ambiguous.'
No further comment has been made.
