Jade Thirlwall, Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jesy Nelson were just teenagers when they were thrust together on The X Factor, which they went on to win as Little Mix.
For almost a decade, the foursome appeared to be unbreakable, supporting each other through heartbreak and hard times and enveloping each other in a protective cocoon.
So when Jesy quit in December 2020, fans had no reason to believe a beef was brewing.
Indeed, Jesy - who turns 31 today - had nothing but great things to say about her bandmates, explaining that she walked away because of the 'toll' on her mental health.
"I find the constant pressure of being in a girl group and living up to expectations very hard," she told fans.
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"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."
However, it was later claimed that Perrie, Jade and Leigh-Anne knew nothing about her departure and only found out through their lawyers.
“Jesy left the band without telling the girls or management," a source told Mail Online at the time.
“Those around her have been supporting her for ten years and protected her and are devastated over all this.”
The shocked stars are said to have quickly cobbled together a statement declaring their love for Jesy, but according to the report, the damage was done.
And when Jesy released the video for her solo debut Boyz, all hell broke loose when Leigh-Anne appeared to accuse her ex-bandmate of blackfishing in leaked messages with influencer NoHun.
Jesy retaliated by addressing the allegations in a live stream with collaborator Nicki Minaj, who proceeded to brutally brand Leigh-Anne a 'jealous clown'.
Then came Little Mix's October 2021 single, Cut You Off, which was widely rumoured to be about Jesy.
At one point, Jade sings: “Don’t think I believe ya, is the grass out there really greener? Are you happy now?
“I know you think you’re all that, it’ll be so sweet when you crawl back, but it’s too late now.”
The girls refused to comment on the inspiration for the song, but did admit that writing it was 'like therapy'.
Jade said: "Cut You Off was written a couple of months ago. It was kind of like a therapy session writing Cut You Off actually."
While Perrie added: "You let it all out, it's a safe space."
That same month, Jesy confirmed their friendship was no-more, admitting they had cut contact.
"We're not talking any more. It is sad but honestly there is no bad blood from my side, and I still love them to pieces and genuinely wish them all the best," she said on The Graham Norton Show.
"I loved my time with them, and we've got the most incredible memories together."
However, she appeared to hold out an olive branch. Hinting that the rift might not be a permanent one and that they might one day find a way back, she added: "It's just one of those things which needs to take time, so who knows.
"To me they are still the sickest girl band in the world."
Jesy would go on to apologise for any offence caused in the blackfishing row, telling the Guardian: "I love Black culture. I love Black music. That’s all I know; it’s what I grew up on. I’m very aware that I’m a white British woman; I’ve never said that I wasn’t."
But the girls had their own side of the story to add, claiming that while Jesy was still in the band they warned her about blackfishing - a term which is used to describe a white person pretending to have black heritage.
“Capitalising on aspects of blackness without having to endure the daily realities of the Black experience is problematic and harmful to people of colour," Jade told the Independent.
“We think it’s absolutely not OK to use harmful stereotypes. There’s so much to say on that subject that it’s hard to sum up in a sound bite.”
Insisting they wanted to move on, Jade said they didn't 'want to dwell', but added that the group had previously approached Jesy in a 'very friendly, very educational manner' to warn her about blackfishing.
It's a sad end to what was once an enduring friendship where milestones were celebrated as a foursome. Perrie and Leigh-Anne have since become mothers and Little Mix played their last gig as a band in May before going on hiatus.
The trio couldn't contain their tears as they bid farewell to the crowd at London's O2 arena.
“We’ve laughed together, cried together," Jade sobbed.
“We have got each other through some of the darkest times of our lives, and created some of the most amazing memories, and we love each other so much.”
A tearful Perrie added: “I need to contain myself because this is going to be, like, a really ugly cry!
"The love we have for each other is ridiculous.
“I want to take this moment to say to Jade and Leigh-Anne, I love you more than anything — and I can’t thank you enough for the past ten years of my life."
There was no mention of Jesy, who was on her way back to London from Los Angeles, where she'd spent two months working on her debut album.
She, too, was in tears - but for a different reason - posting an emotional image of her and a friend crying with the caption: "We've laughed, we've cried, we've done it all baby girl."
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