Former Little Mix star Jesy Nelson has released the video for her latest single Bad Thing - with a women’s charity praising the singer for highlighting domestic abuse with the track.
Bad Thing was released on Friday, April 14, with the video dropping at 3pm.
Prior to the release, Nelson said the track would give her fans a different side of her, adding she was revealing: “A real, raw, honest, vulnerable side to me.”
The track is about someone in an unhealthy relationship - and the music video - which is set in the 1960s - features her and her fictional boyfriend, called Sid, living in London.
Throughout the video, Nelson can be seen struggling with what it’s like to be in an abusive relationship.
Women’s Aid, who collaborated with her on the video, praised the singer in a statement.
They said: "We thank Jesy for using the music video for Bad Thing to signpost support for women who may be affected by domestic abuse.
“Jesy’s video shows her character not explicitly leaving at the end, and we know from our work with survivors of domestic abuse that this is a reality for many with as many as 1.7 million women experiencing domestic abuse in the UK and Wales last year alone.
“Jesy’s video highlights that it is not easy to leave an abusive relationship and for women using our network of services across the country, the average length of time in abusive relationships before leaving is just over six years."
The spokesperson continued: "There will no doubt be many people watching the video who will be living this for real and knowing that there are people who understand and will believe you, and that there is help out there, can be the difference between life and death.
"You don’t have to be married or living with someone for it to count as domestic abuse – if you are living in fear of your partner, if they are controlling you and you feel trapped, you can get support from Women’s Aid to safely leave when the time is right for you."
Bad Thing is the follow-up to her debut solo single Boyz featuring US rapper Nicki Minaj which was released in October 2021.
After the accompanying music video for the song was released, it prompted accusations of blackfishing, the practice of a non-black person trying to appear black.
She later addressed the accusations and said she never intended to cause offence and denied using fake tan.
Nelson was originally part of the girl band Little Mix alongside Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jade Thirlwall and Perrie Edwards, but left in 2020 after nine years, blaming the toll being in the group had taken on her mental health.
She said in October 2021 that she was not on speaking terms with her former bandmates, but added there was “no bad blood from my side”.
The remaining trio released a new album, Between Us, in 2021 to mark the 10-year anniversary of the band’s formation – which included hit tracks from their decade together and five new unreleased songs.
Last year, they embarked on their Confetti tour across the UK before going on hiatus to “recharge” and work on solo projects.
The band were formed on the eighth series of The X Factor in 2011 and were the first group to win the competition.
