Posted October 8, 20213 yr https://www.vulture.com/2021/10/interview-j...ackfishing.html I thought this might deserve its own post to discuss, rather than going into the Boyz thread & changing the subject, but mods, feel free to combine or move this if you feel otherwise. Some key portions: There’s been a notable shift in the way you were marketed then to the way you’re marketing yourself now, as an R&B-first pop star. In response, you’ve been accused of Blackfishing, allegations that when presented to you by The Guardian in August, you seemed surprised by. On reflection, do you understand the points being made? 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. 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. Some, many of them people of color, have said that when they’ve called you out for Blackfishing in the comments of your Instagram, they’ve been blocked by your account as a result. I don’t know about that. Maybe it was my team. Do you feel like you’ve changed the way you act or dress? No, not at all. I’m just 100 percent being myself. 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. 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. Editor’s note: Following the interview, Nelson’s publicist confirmed that those comments had been deleted and users blocked by her management. In an email, Nelson said the following: “I know comments relating to this had previously been deleted from my IG account, I only found out afterwards that a member of my management team had deleted comments. I’ve spent years being bullied online, so I limit the amount I go on socials. My management team have access to my account & they were trying to protect me & my mental health.” Nelson canceled two scheduled follow-up calls to discuss Blackfishing and identity in greater detail. Instead, her publicist sent over the following statement on her behalf: “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.” --- Given this is such a big moment for you and you will want things to go well, does the backlash to [Nicki's] vaccine hesitancy make you anxious about having her on your song? Not at all. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. If Nicki feels like she hasn’t done her full research and she wants to know more about the vaccination, then that’s her opinion. She’s there to be on my song, to do her part. She’s literally made my song even better. That’s nothing to do with my song and what we’re doing together.
October 9, 20213 yr She is only making things worse, isn't she? She cleary has never listened to Leigh-Anne or watched her documentary :(
October 9, 20213 yr I love how she thinks 'black culture' is just rap music. If you had to actually ask her to talk specifics about what she thinks black culture is or to talk about Black Lives Matter she wouldn't have a clue.
October 9, 20213 yr Interesting that she rejected follow-up calls to discuss it in more detail. Her comments about it are so ignorant.
October 9, 20213 yr This interview is really telling and it won’t do her any favours at all. Media is already picking up on it.
October 9, 20213 yr This isn't a good look at all. Eeek. She really needs to get a grip. Broaden her mind, listen carefully to what people are saying and a have a bit of accountability.
October 9, 20213 yr I think this all stems from the early days of the band and X factor when she was getting trolled online and learnt to block them out and ignore them, rightfully so. But now that’s it’s a serious issue I think she’s doing the same and can’t see the real problem with it all.
October 9, 20213 yr I'm a person of colour and I want to give my view. I've found it highly offensive when people have responded to me telling me how I should feel about Jesy's 'black fishing'. It's like a POC's opinions are not valid, granted people may not have known I was a POC in the first place but dismissing people who think otherwise is not okay. I've seen a lot of people that are not a POC jump on the bandwagon of how Jesy is 'black fishing', and myself, a POC do not feel she is. To me, she is quite obviously a white british woman who overly tans like a lot of people, especially from the area she is from. I've not been offended by what Jesy has been doing as I see much worse and tbh overly tanning is unfortunately British culture. I genuinely do not believe Jesy is trying to be black, I believe she just likes tan as it makes her feel confident and a lot of people tan because it makes them feel more attractive and look slimmer. I do kinda find it icky that people within the LM world have been so publicly calling out Jesy and encouraging hate knowing what she's been through. I think if they feel a certain way that is completely fair and I respect that, but they should have these discussions in private and not be doing this online, knowing what effects it had on Jesy. MNEK and others are well and truly allowed to feel how they feel. I'm just saying me, a POC is not offended by Jesy. I've actually seen a lot of people I know in real life that are POC defend Jesy yesterday, which tbh from the backlash on forums I was surprised by. Below is an example of one of the posts I saw from a POC: The media: “Jesy Nelson is blackfishing in her new music video because she is wearing fake tan” What. The. Actual. Hell. Why cant they just leave her alone!? Am I whitefishing because I straighten my naturally curly hair!? Makes my blood boil! I saw many other posts like this too, I do seem to find it is a lot of non POC that are jumping on the bandwagon of hating on Jesy. This may be an extremely unpopular take and I hope no-one takes what i'm about to say bad as I absolutely love Leigh-Anne but I was disappointed to see her like negative posts about Jesy. Like I said with MNEK she is fully entitled to feel how she does, but idk if that is really needed publicly. Especially when it seems kind of shady and nasty knowing what Jesy has been through, she first hand witnessed it and she seems to be also encouraging the hate on social media, something she knows Jesy has struggled so much with. I think i'm more disappointed because of how much Jesy has been publicly saying so many positive things about Leigh-Anne, Jade and Perrie. I feel like instead of going on social media she should be reaching out privately instead. Little Mix are supposed to be about empowering women and lifting other people up, not shading people and causing drama and inciting hate. Plus Leigh was with Jesy for nearly 10 years and suddenly its an issue and she was liking all of her posts where people claimed she was 'black fishing'. Plus she's getting married to a colourist and someone who has been homophobic. I do find it also odd she's liking negative posts about Jesy when her best friend Hannah that is her business partner is overly tanned and you could say is 'black fishing', so I do find it a bit performative and hypocritical. I love all four girls so please do not see that as me hating on Leigh. I just wanted to express my opinion as a POC, if you don't agree that is perfectly fine - I mean no disrespect to anyone. I do hope Jesy does take some of the criticism on board as it'll make things easier for her and hopefully less damaging to her mental health and hopefully less people will feel offended. There are a LOT of other POC actually defending Jesy and are not actually offended by her. I do not think there are many POC on this site so I thought i'd give you all my opinion. No-one has to agree with me, but i'd appreciate if you just respected my opinion instead of just dismissing a POC's opinion. Edited October 9, 20213 yr by Slayer
October 9, 20213 yr She’s trash (or better, she talks trash). As a POC, I’m deeply concerned. The other three girls are amazing. And the documentary, well, it seems she didn’t watch it. Wannabe Geri Halliwell. She’s gonna flop hard sooner or later and realize how you can do your own thing without having to steal from other cultures just the beautiful things and not acknowledge the pain and general history. She seems like an extremely uneducated person. I feel for her.
October 9, 20213 yr Omg my luvs This has really tarnished my view on Jessie. I hope this doesnt have a negative impact on the trio that remain. It shouldnt do as they dont even talk to her anymore. I am shocked at her attitude! What happens if she says shes being bullied again? Just Carol Honey :heart:
October 9, 20213 yr She’s trash (or better, she talks trash). As a POC, I’m deeply concerned. The other three girls are amazing. And the documentary, well, it seems she didn’t watch it. Wannabe Geri Halliwell. She’s gonna flop hard sooner or later and realize how you can do your own thing without having to steal from other cultures just the beautiful things and not acknowledge the pain and general history. She seems like an extremely uneducated person. I feel for her. YES! Very well put, minus the feeling sorry for her. She’s had this brought to her attention and chooses to be ignorant and dismissive. Vulgar!
October 9, 20213 yr I’m not a POC but my partner is and she doesn’t like how Jesy is being / has been the past few years. I can see the issues with how she’s behaving so I completely understand why others are feeling the way they are. And the worse thing about it is that I don’t think she’ll ever learn from it / change.
October 9, 20213 yr I'm a person of colour and I want to give my view. I've found it highly offensive when people have responded to me telling me how I should feel about Jesy's 'black fishing'. It's like a POC's opinions are not valid, granted people may not have known I was a POC in the first place but dismissing people who think otherwise is not okay. I've seen a lot of people that are not a POC jump on the bandwagon of how Jesy is 'black fishing', and myself, a POC do not feel she is. To me, she is quite obviously a white british woman who overly tans like a lot of people, especially from the area she is from. I've not been offended by what Jesy has been doing as I see much worse and tbh overly tanning is unfortunately British culture. I genuinely do not believe Jesy is trying to be black, I believe she just likes tan as it makes her feel confident and a lot of people tan because it makes them feel more attractive and look slimmer. I do kinda find it icky that people within the LM world have been so publicly calling out Jesy and encouraging hate knowing what she's been through. I think if they feel a certain way that is completely fair and I respect that, but they should have these discussions in private and not be doing this online, knowing what effects it had on Jesy. MNEK and others are well and truly allowed to feel how they feel. I'm just saying me, a POC is not offended by Jesy. I've actually seen a lot of people I know in real life that are POC defend Jesy yesterday, which tbh from the backlash on forums I was surprised by. Below is an example of one of the posts I saw from a POC: The media: “Jesy Nelson is blackfishing in her new music video because she is wearing fake tan” What. The. Actual. Hell. Why cant they just leave her alone!? Am I whitefishing because I straighten my naturally curly hair!? Makes my blood boil! I saw many other posts like this too, I do seem to find it is a lot of non POC that are jumping on the bandwagon of hating on Jesy. This may be an extremely unpopular take and I hope no-one takes what i'm about to say bad as I absolutely love Leigh-Anne but I was disappointed to see her like negative posts about Jesy. Like I said with MNEK she is fully entitled to feel how she does, but idk if that is really needed publicly. Especially when it seems kind of shady and nasty knowing what Jesy has been through, she first hand witnessed it and she seems to be also encouraging the hate on social media, something she knows Jesy has struggled so much with. I think i'm more disappointed because of how much Jesy has been publicly saying so many positive things about Leigh-Anne, Jade and Perrie. I feel like instead of going on social media she should be reaching out privately instead. Little Mix are supposed to be about empowering women and lifting other people up, not shading people and causing drama and inciting hate. Plus Leigh was with Jesy for nearly 10 years and suddenly its an issue and she was liking all of her posts where people claimed she was 'black fishing'. Plus she's getting married to a colourist and someone who has been homophobic. I do find it also odd she's liking negative posts about Jesy when her best friend Hannah that is her business partner is overly tanned and you could say is 'black fishing', so I do find it a bit performative and hypocritical. I love all four girls so please do not see that as me hating on Leigh. I just wanted to express my opinion as a POC, if you don't agree that is perfectly fine - I mean no disrespect to anyone. I do hope Jesy does take some of the criticism on board as it'll make things easier for her and hopefully less damaging to her mental health and hopefully less people will feel offended. There are a LOT of other POC actually defending Jesy and are not actually offended by her. I do not think there are many POC on this site so I thought i'd give you all my opinion. No-one has to agree with me, but i'd appreciate if you just respected my opinion instead of just dismissing a POC's opinion. Thank you for sharing your views, it’s clearly a very difficult topic and it is interesting to see the views of different people. I think just labelling it right or wrong is nigh on impossible and I don’t see how it will ever be solved really.
October 9, 20213 yr Slayer you mention the tan but her whole image and the video is pretty much based on black culture. I mean ‘Perfectville’ shows white heritage ( the white old man and the white women) and then it appears a gang show up from the ‘Hood’ in the video or at least that’s how it comes across. Respect your opinion but surely you must understand why POC are pi*sed?! Add to that the grills, language of the song ‘hood, baddie’ etc she’s a white women from Romford with no understanding of the ‘hood’ whatsoever or what any of it entails it’s purely used to create this US ‘baddie’ image. We all know from others who have constantly stated why this is dangerous because at anytime it’s seen as not cool she can just switch up her image and jump on a dance tune! It’s way deeper than fake tan. I’m not a POC but I can totally feel why some are really offended and I don’t think they should be made to stay quiet.
October 9, 20213 yr perrie, leigh & jade have all unfollowed her on insta edit: main LM account too Edited October 9, 20213 yr by jsweetxe
October 9, 20213 yr Leigh liked videos calling out Jesy for black fishing too, it really is over for now. To be fair it was crickets from Jesy when Leigh spoke about racism and now she's actively ignoring and pretending black-fishing claims aren't valid. They've done the right thing.
