Jesy Nelson has told fans to "be kind" after social media users criticised her appearance – mainly her tan – in the video for her solo debut Boyz.
The star appears to have hit out following further claims that she has been blackfishing in the video, which also features Nicki Minaj and Diddy.
Boyz is Jesy's first single since the 30-year-old made the decision to walk away from chart-topping group Little Mix in December 2020, but she has faced several claims of cultural appropriation and blackfishing since.
The debut video from the songstress sees Jesy with a darker complexion than what she appeared to look like during her time on The X Factor.
Blackfishing is the term used when a white person appears to take on black cultural references which may be done through hairstyles, makeup or even surgery.
In view of her 8.4million Instagram followers, Jesy appeared to hit out at the claims as she shared a touching message on her Stories during Mental Health Awareness Day.
She penned: "Mental illness is not always visible. 10.10.2021 Be kind to others.
"Your not alone [sic]."
However, the singer has been accused of blackfishing on more than one occasion and recently addressed the claims head-on while speaking to Vulture.
She told the publication: "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.
"But I mean, like, I love black culture, I love black music, that's all I know; it's what I grew up on."
Jesy added: "I'm very aware that I'm a white British woman; I've never said that I wasn't."
She also went on to address claims that people of colour have had their comments deleted and been blocked by Jesy for "calling her out" in the comment sections of her snaps, with the singer claiming: "Maybe it was my team."
However, she also stated that she was "initially shocked" that she was faced with blackfishing allegations adding that she wouldn't go out of her way to appear racially ambiguous.
Following the release of the video for Boyz, Twitter users voiced their frustration as they flocked to the micro-blogging site.
One wrote: "Jesy Nelson’s solo debut Boyz is cute and the video was a fun 00s throwback but it's four minutes of blatant cultural appropriation: The Blackfishing, lowriders and bikes, gold teeth, the Blackfishing, the aesthetic, the hair, the lollipops – THE BLACKFISHING."
"It's a fact and not an opinion about Jesy Nelson blackfishing," claimed another.
While a third tweeted: "All the girls from Little Mix unfollowed Jesy Nelson… And for blackfishing! Nah idc that's pure logic [sic]."
"Good morning everyone except Jesy Nelson cause she keeps blackfishing and getting away with it," said a fourth.
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