Jesy Nelson has been praised by fans for showing a “realistic” portrayal of a domestic violence victim in her Bad Thing music video.
The former Little Mix singer, 31, is back with an all-new sound that mimics the likes of Billie Eilish and Raye with her moody second single.
It comes more than a year after the release of her solo debut Boyz – and Jesy is hoping for the ultimate musical comeback after parting ways with her record label Polydor.
Jesy teamed up with Women’s Aid to chart the highs and lows of a toxic relationship in the 1960s music video.
Directed by Charlie Sarsfield, Jesy cried real tears after her on-screen boyfriend (played by Sid Ellisdon) grabbed her by the throat and yelled at her.
Singer: Jesy Nelson is praised by fans for showing a ‘realistic’ portrayal of a domestic violence victim in her music video Bad Thing
She’s back: The former Little Mix singer, 31, is back with an all-new sound that mimics the likes of Billie Eilish and Raye with her moody second single
The video documents Jesy’s on-screen partner battling infidelity, with the wrong crowd and drugs in London’s East End in the 1960s, as she struggles to leave as he comforts her after their explosive argument.
Viewers who watched the video, which went live Friday, said the storyline was so compelling they cried.
One fan wrote, “Jesy Nelson’s Bad Thing music video is so good it made me cry.”
‘They did a great job! it’s very powerful,” said another.
Another viewer wrote, “Jesy Nelson’s Bad Thing is a bop,” while another typed, “Did she really cry here?” I know she’s been affected by this in real life, but damn it. I also can’t watch this part without feeling uncomfortable, it’s too realistic. Glad they gave the VA in the beginning.’
Others praised her mature sound, saying she should have scrapped Boyz entirely and launched Bad Thing as her debut single to really make her mark on the music scenes as a new solo artist.
One wrote: ‘Jesy Nelson should have had Bad Thing as her first single and avoided 2022 altogether
In Bad Thing, Jesy recalls romance with an ex-boyfriend and being “love blind” due to the powerful lyrics. The star has had a string of high-profile romances but hasn’t delved into who the number is about.
Release: It comes more than a year after the release of her solo debut Boyz – and Jesy is hoping for the ultimate musical comeback after parting ways with her record label Polydor
Emotional: Directed by Charlie Sarsfield, Jesy cried real tears after her on-screen boyfriend (played by Sid Ellisdon) grabbed her by the throat and yelled at her
Important Message: Jesy Teamed Up With Women’s Aid To Capture The Highs And Lows Of A Toxic Relationship In The 1960s Music Video
Looking tough: The video documents Jesy’s on-screen partner battling infidelity, with the wrong crowd and dealing drugs in 1960s London’s East End
Impressed: Viewers who watched the video, which went live on Friday, said the storyline was so compelling they cried
Proud: Women’s Aid also took to Twitter to praise Jesy for raising awareness. They wrote: ‘We are proud to have worked with #JesyNelson on her new video #BadThing’
She sings, “Hey, we started at the end, another second chance, to fix it again.”
“I know I’m fine alone, but you feel just like home. My favorite kind of mistake, familiar as a song.”
In the chorus, she calls, “When I’m about to say goodbye, I forget what I cried about last time.”
“The only thing I see clearly is that I am love blind. I’d trade common sense for a good time.
“Damn, I did something bad, I know you are damaged goods. Is it bad that I want to treat you right?’
Jesy talked about her decision to work with Women’s Aid and why she wanted to include a domestic violence storyline to mentor the son.
She said in a Q and A on Instagram, “I just feel like so many women in my life have gone through horrific experiences like this and I just really wanted to become aware of it.
‘I think it’s such an important subject that hardly anyone talks about. There are so many people going through it and they’re too afraid to talk about it and that’s why I think it’s really important.
“Everyone thinks my makeup artist just put streaks of mascara all over my face because they ran in the most perfect lines, but they were real tears.”
Women’s Aid also took to Twitter to praise Jesy for raising awareness. They wrote, “We are proud to have worked with #JesyNelson on her new video #BadThing, which provides a powerful snapshot of the realities of domestic violence.”
Torn Up: Jesy struggles to leave as he comforts her after their explosive argument
She sings, “Hey, we started at the end, another second chance, to fix it again.” “I know I’m fine alone, but you feel just like home. My favorite kind of mistake, familiar as a song”
Going it alone: Jesy has self-released her second solo single after parting ways with Polydor last July due to ‘creative differences’
Jesy has self-released her second solo single after parting ways with Polydor in July last year due to “creative differences.”
It follows that Jesy is about to sign a big new deal with Warner Records.
She’s said to be in advanced talks with the label, and they’ll be watching her and fans’ reactions to the song closely before offering a deal, according to reports.
Jesy rose to fame with Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall as part of the X Factor winning girl group Little Mix in 2011 but left the group in 2020.
Little Mix then continued as a trio and released the hit album Confetti together before going on hiatus in 2022.
Jesy was the first to make the move into solo music with Boyz before Leigh-Anne, 31, signed a solo deal with Warner Records in March 2022.
Jade, 30, has also been in the studio working on her album with help from her Rizzle Kicks star partner Jordan Stephens.
Meanwhile, Perrie, 29, is also working on solo music, but said she doesn’t have a “fixed timeline” and enjoys being able to explore her own sound.
- If you are affected by anything you have seen in the video then help and support is available at https://www.womensaid.org.uk/
