All over our social media for the last week, the term ‘blackfishing’ has been heavily discussed recently. Alongside it, the drama between ex Little Mix member Jesy Nelson and her former band members. But what is blackfishing? And why is there drama between the members of Little Mix? We’ve got all the answers.
What is blackfishing?
@tanita.dee Jesy Nelson & Blackfishing #jesynelson #littlemix #blackfishing #leighanne #socialmedia #influencers
Blackfishing is a slang term used to describe anyone who is not black that uses things like their hairstyles, makeup and tan in order to alter their appearance and look as if they have black or mixed-race heritage. This is often done by the individual for profit, fame and commercial gain.
Often discussed on social media, blackfishing has sparked many controversial debates over the last few years. Many Instagram influencers have been accused of it, as have other celebrities. When it comes to Jesy Nelson, she has been accused of blackfishing in the past as well as this year. In 2018, the singer faced significant backlash after wearing dreadlocks. Many people informed her this was appropriation, and a lot of her fans tried to politely let her know on social media that it is also blackfishing.
Why has Jesy come under such fire now?
This month, Jesy released her solo debut. Her first song since leaving Little Mix, Boyz is an R&B inspired hip-hop/pop song and features Nicki Minaj. It is a remix of sorts of P Diddy’s 2001 hit Bad Boys for Life, and the music video is a shot for shot remake of Diddy’s own video. In the video, Nelson is wearing a thick and dark tan, she has very plump lips, and continues to use black aesthetics. From the lowriders and bikes to gold teeth and hairstyles, Nelson’s video sees her sing about boys who are ‘hood’ and ‘taboo’ whilst surrounded by black aesthetics and POC. And people aren’t happy about it.
Another cause of alarm to fans and critics alike has been how the video appears to associate the ‘bad boy’ label Nelson sings about with POC, despite Nelson’s dating history being full of seemingly very lovely guys – think Love Island sweetheart Chris Hughes and Diversity babe Jordan Banjo.
How has the internet responded?
A lot of outrage has hit the internet, whether that be at the blackfishing, the actual song itself, or at how Jesy has handled the whole situation. People have taken to TikTok in particular to voice their upset.
@max_balegde Just got in and watched the live stream I’m mega raging #littlemix #jesynelson
@natiakenyatta #duet with @jesynelson Jesy, her label and whoever participated in this disgust me. #fyp #jesynelson
Other people, however, are pointing out that whilst Jesy’s blackfishing isn’t alright, it is not just her. The problem, they say. lies deeper than Nelson’s latest music video. It lies with the companies behind songs like Nelson’s and other musicians, and it is pervasive throughout the industry.
@madamejoyce Why jesy nelson is not the problem #foryoupage #viral #fypシ #nigeriancomedy #jesynelson
How has Jesy responded?
In a live stream with Nicki Minaj to address the allegations, Jesy tried to justify her tan by saying it was achieved naturally. She said that she recently went on holiday to Antigua and that in the past, her former band member Leigh-Anne thought Nelson had black heritage because she tanned so strongly.
Nelson went on to say that her intention was “never, ever to offend people of colour with this video and [her] song”, and that she made the song because “growing up as a young girl, this is the music that [she] listened to”. Her favourite videos and music were”’90s/2000 hip hop, R&B music”.
She then added that it “actually does really hurt [her] that [she] may have offended people and actually, like, hurt people’s feelings just by genuinely celebrating something that [she] love[s]”.
Finally, Nelson said that it’s hard for her because when in Little Mix with “two women of colour”, they never brought up her blackfishing until the last music video the group did together. It was this comment that angered fans even more, as they felt it blamed POC for failing to educate white people, as opposed to taking responsibility for her actions.
Nicki Minaj’s attack on Leigh-Anne
Later in the live, Nicki started to give her opinion on both the blackfishing controversy and the fake DMs that were published by influencer @nohun_. The influencer claimed to have spoken to Leigh-Anne via Insta DMs, and published ‘screenshots’ of the conversation, which have since been shown to be fake.
Nicki said, “If I was rocking with you for 10 years and there was something so horrible about you … and then as soon as we part ways I was like texting about you … Immediately that person has to wear a big red clown nose and clown boots.”
“When people part ways, go about your fucking business. Whether you brought it up behind closed doors whatever, you are a fucking clown.”
“What we won’t have is someone texting and telling influencers to talk badly about this girl, I know singers that tan a lot. It’s their fucking business, it’s their fucking right. It’s different when someone comes out and pretends to be black.”
“Sweetheart, take them messages and shove them up your ass. Don’t come out to try and ruin anyone, let her enjoy this time. It screams insecurity. It screams that you’re jealous. And now you just look like a big, jealous Bozo”.
Throughout Nicki’s rant, Jesy giggled on live, and when Nicki had finished, simply said “Thank you babe, honestly, that means a lot”. Fans are outraged that after 10 years of Leigh-Anne being there for Jesy, through her trolling, her mental health issues and their journey into fame, Nelson did nothing to back up her former bandmate.
Jesy Nelson made an entire documentary on BBC about being kind and trolling online, but just sat and laughed as Nicki Minaj slated Leigh-Anne Pinnock to 100k viewers on a live. That just does not sit right with me.
— Darren (@RealityDazzle) October 11, 2021
Other fans have pointed out that whilst Nicki is slating Leigh-Anne and others, and supporting Jesy to the ends, she had it out for Miley Cyrus not so long ago.
https://twitter.com/reiyoArt/status/1447877163189821445
Regardless, we can’t wait to see what both Little Mix and Jesy get up to next.
