Perrie Edwards admitted ‘it was like losing a limb’ as she alluded to her fall out with former bandmate Jesy Nelson in a new interview on Tuesday.
Jesy quit Little Mix in Decemnber 2020, saying she found the ‘constant pressure’ of being in a girl group very difficult – she later drifted apart from Perrie, Leigh-Ann Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall.
Speaking about a friendship that ‘broke down,’ the singer, 32, said it was hard adapting to ‘not have her in my life anymore.’
Perrie, who’s debut solo album is set to be released September 26, revealed one song Same Place, Different View was difficult to write as it referenced the fall out.
In an interview with Glamour UK, she explained: ‘It’s about a friendship that I once had, that I no longer have anymore. We talk about breakups and heartbreak, but we don’t normally talk about friendships that break down.
‘And it was like losing a limb. I was with her every day. We lived in each other’s pockets.’
Perrie Edwards admitted ‘it was like losing a limb’ as she alluded to her fall out with former bandmate Jesy Nelson in a new interview on Tuesday (pictured in August)
Jesy quit Little Mix in Decemnber 2020, saying she found the ‘constant pressure’ of being in a girl group very difficult – she later drifted apart from er bandmates (pictured in 2019)
Perrie added: ‘We were the best of friends, we were so close, and we did everything together. To then not have her in my life anymore was a big thing for me. I found it really hard to adapt.’
Speaking to Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast, Perrie had previously admitted her shattered friendship with Jesy had inspired a new song.
She said: ‘I wrote a song about it – a friendship I had that I no longer have. We don’t know how to talk about friendship breakups.
‘It’s still as heartbreaking – when you go through all these things with someone all the highs and lows and then they’re just gone.
‘But these things happen. Do we try and rectify things? Or just stay away?’
Last year, Perrie said it was ‘heartbreaking’ that she hadn’t talked to her former Little Mix bandmate Jesy ‘for a long time’.
In a candid interview with Cosmopolitan UK, the singer spoke about how the friendship now lies in tatters.
She said: ‘We don’t talk and haven’t done for a long time… It’s really sad, it’s heartbreaking.’
Speaking about a friendship that ‘broke down,’ the singer, 32, said it was hard adapting to ‘not have her in my life anymore’
Perrie added: ‘We were the best of friends and we did everything together. To not have her in my life anymore was a big thing for me. I found it hard to adapt’ (pictured together in 2019)
Perrie added: ‘But sometimes these things happen and people decide they want to part ways, and that’s absolutely fine. I would rather it went differently but you can’t control how things go.’
Jesy has previously let people into her life after starring in her BBC documentary Odd One Out, which aired back in 2019, and followed her struggles with her mental health. Her former bandmates also appeared in the documentary.
‘The Little Mix singer opens up about the impact cyberbullies have had on her life and on her mental health and meets others who have been the victims of horrific online trolling,’ the synopsis read.
The programme was a huge hit and went on to win the Factual category at the National Television Awards in 2020.
During her time on The X Factor, Jesy was subject to vile trolling about her looks, which impacted her mental health.
Jesy revealed that just moments after being crowned winner of The X Factor, she received disgusting messages telling her she was the ‘ugliest thing’ and that she ‘deserves to die’.
She said: ‘It became the worst time of my life. I wasn’t just known as one of the singers in Little Mix, I was known as the fat ugly one.’
The star went on to lose weight and returned to the X Factor stage in 2013, but was still subject to nasty comments, which later led onto her overdosing.
Jesy said: ‘I thought, “I could be the skinniest girl in the world, and this is never going to go away,” That was the point I got severely depressed.’
Then in December 2020 she confirmed that she was going to leave Little Mix after nine years.
In an Instagram statement she explained that she was focus on things that make her ‘happy’ and also said that being in the group has ‘taken a roll on her mental health’.
‘To all my Mixers, the past nine years in Little Mix has been the most incredible time of my life.
‘The truth is recently being in the band has really taken a toll on my mental health. I find the constant pressure of being in a girl group and living up to expectations very hard.
‘There comes a time in life when we need to reinvest in taking care of ourselves rather than focusing on making other people happy, and I feel like now is the time to begin that process.
‘So after much consideration and with a heavy heart, I’m announcing I’m leaving Little Mix.’
Last year, Perrie said it was ‘heartbreaking’ that she hadn’t talked to her former Little Mix bandmate Jesy ‘for a long time’ (Jesy pictured in 2023)
Jesy quit Little Mix in Decemnber 2020 and in a statement said being in the group has ‘taken a roll on her mental health’ (L-R Leigh-Anne, Jesy, Perrie and Jade)
Jesy emotionally added: ‘I need to spend some time with the people I love, doing things that make me happy.
‘We have achieved things I never thought possible. From winning our first Brit Award to our sold out shows at the O2.
‘Making friends and fans all over the world I can’t thank you all enough from the bottom of my heart for making me feel like the luckiest girl in the world.
‘You have always been there to support and encourage me and I will never ever
‘I’m ready to embark on a new chapter in my life – I’m not sure what it’s going to look like right now, but I hope you’ll still be there to support me.
‘I want to say thank you to everyone involved in our journey. All the hard work and dedication that went into making us a success.
‘To every single fan who came to see us in concert, who listened to our songs and sung their hearts out, sent me messages and supported me along the way I want you to know I love you all so much and I could never have done this without you and I appreciate it endlessly.
‘Most of all I want to say thank you to Jade, Perrie and Leigh-Anne for creating some of the most amazing memories I’ll never forget. I hope that you’ll continue to fulfil all of your dreams and keep on making music that people love. Love Jesy x.’
After leaving the band, Jesy embarked on her solo career, releasing singles including Boyz, Bad Thing and Mine, and then later stepped away from the spotlight.
