Nicki Minaj defends Jesy Nelson following blackfishing accusations

The new single, which features Nicki Minaj and samples P Diddy’s "Bad Boy for Life" (and features a cameo from Sean Combs himself in the video), landed last Friday (8 October), and following a mixed reaction on social media and a new wave of blackfishing accusations, Minaj and Nelson jumped on an Instagram Live to speak about the single.

Minaj called the "Boyz" and Nelson haters "jealous people" and reassured Nelson, telling her to not to let it get to her. When Nelson was speaking about being contacted by a former Little Mix bandmate, Minaj jumped in, urging people to "focus on your own energy."

Speaking about the blackfishing accusations to Minaj, Nelson said, "It’s just hard for me because I was in a group with two women of colour for nine years and it was never brought up to me up until the last music video…"

Jesy Nelson says Leigh-Anne Pinnock made her aware of Blackfishing allegations during the music video shoot for “Sweet Melody”:

“It’s just hard for me because I was in a group with two women of color for 9 years and it was never brought up to me up until the last music video…” pic.twitter.com/jBfIOJmIGR

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) October 11, 2021

Nelson also said it was "never, ever" her intention "to offend people of colour with this video and my song because like I said, growing up as a young girl, this is the music that I listened to".

She explained that she didn't fake tan before the video shoot, and had instead been in Antigua for three weeks before the video. Nelson also stated that she didn't feel like she "was doing anything wrong because I've got naturally curly hair."

Minaj also made a few comments about her former Little Mix bandmates, seemingly calling Leigh-Anne Pinnock's "leaked" messages about Nelson "clown shit", and telling them to "stop trying to hurt people and kill peoples' lives and career."

Nicki Minaj went on IG Live and shades Leigh-Anne to defend Jesy Nelson after accusations of blackfishing pic.twitter.com/rfOGB9y9xi

— Best Vision TV (@Bestvisiontv) October 11, 2021

Following the eventful Instagram Live, Minaj also expressed her support for Nelson on Twitter, writing, "JeLeigh btchs actin real messy. ~ if you know someone has been suicidal from bullying in the past, why try to get a bunch of ppl to bully them again about smthng else, on an even bigger scale? Shame on you— that’s rlly sad. You don’t know what ppl can deal with. Mental Health."

JeLeigh btchs actin real messy. ~ if you know someone has been suicidal from bullying in the past, why try to get a bunch of ppl to bully them again about smthng else, on an even bigger scale? Shame on you— that’s rlly sad. You don’t know what ppl can deal with. Mental Health

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) October 12, 2021