Jade Thirlwall says therapy helped Little Mix deal with Jesy Nelson’s departure
Thirlwall said Nelson's exit was a "really tough experience"
Little Mix singer Jade Thirlwall has revealed that the band had group therapy in the aftermath of Jesy Nelson exiting the band last December.
The pop group, which is completed by Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Perrie Edwards, relied on therapy to deal with the “really tough experience” of Nelson quitting the band.
Thirlwall told Gay Times for its new cover interview: “I think for anyone, when such a big change happens in your life, and you’ve been so used to a certain situation for so long, it’s really hard.
“Getting through that and moving forward. I think for us as well, we were still promoting the album [2020’s ‘Confetti’] at the time and doing TV shows. We were just cracking on as it were, and I think we were in a bit of shock for a long time because we just had to keep going.
“It wasn’t until we had some time off at Christmas that it suddenly dawned on us what had happened.
“It was hard. It would have been for anyone and we’ve got each other, we have group therapy, we have our own therapists, and you do what you can [quotes via Metro].”
Nelson left Little Mix last year, citing the toll that online trolling and other pressures had on her mental health. She has since launched her solo career with debut single ‘Boyz’ featuring Nicki Minaj.
Thirlwall added: “We’re really stronger than ever. I would say that this year with the girls having their kids, it just puts everything into perspective of what’s important in life.
“We know that no matter what, we’re gonna have each other through anything.”
It comes after Little Mix denied rumours that they will soon split in light of their new greatest hits collection ‘Between Us’.
The pop group were speaking to an Australian radio station last month when they appeared to reassure fans that a disbandment wasn’t imminent.
Little Mix were asked by Smallzy’s Surgery on November 2: “Do we know what’s next? Is that a question that collectively there’s no known answer to?”
Pinnock replied: “Well, I mean, I just think Little Mix, 10 years in, it’s something that can never really die if I’m honest,” which was met by laughter from her bandmates.
Thirlwall then said: “No matter what in the future, we’ll always have each other. We’re a throuple, in this together.”
‘Between Us’ was released last Friday (November 12), marking 10 years since the band’s formation.