Jesy Nelson recently responded to "blackfishing" allegations (Image via Getty Images)Singer Jesy Nelson recently came under fire after fans accused her of alleged “blackfishing” and cultural appropriation. The term “blackfishing” is often used to describe white individuals attempting to appear as someone with an African-American heritage.The accusations against the former Little Mix member came hours after she released her highly-anticipated solo debut Boyz featuring Nicki Minaj and P Diddy. The former found herself in the middle of a blackfishing controversy after donning dreadlocks and a tanned complexion in the music video. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @jesynelsonFollowing massive criticism on social media, Jesy addressed the situation during an interview with Variety:“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. I wasn’t on social media around that time, so I let my team [deal with it], because that was when I’d just left.”The 30-year-old also defended herself and said that she is aware of her white British ethnicity:“I mean, like, 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.”Jesy Nelson was born in England and belongs to a British ethnic group.Twitter slams Jesy Nelson for alleged blackfishing in new music videoJesy Nelson has been criticized for alleged "blackfishing" (Image via Getty Images)Jesy Nelson was born in Romford, East London to Janis and John Nelson. She rose to fame after appearing on the eighth season of The X Factor UK as part of the four-piece girl group titled Rhythmix.The name of the group was later changed to Little Mix and the quartet became the first ever band to win the reality music show. The group went on to become one of the most successful international girl bands of all time.Jesy announced her departure from the group last year, citing mental health issues. Earlier this week, the Black Magic hitmaker released her first solo single. The song peaked on the US and UK iTunes charts immediately upon release.However, she left fans disappointed as many accused her of allegedly blackfishing in the music video. Several social media users took to Twitter to slam the performer for her actions:demi@Iee_knwhow are jesy nelson stans still in denial about her black fishing6:26 AM · Oct 8, 20213376535how are jesy nelson stans still in denial about her black fishing https://t.co/C2LcQZ5sbcRowena@westxallensjesy nelson profiting off of black culture, when she herself couldn’t even be a good ally to an ex bandmate let alone the black community, whilst black fishing and trying to sing with a blaccent in an attempt to sound hard when she’s from Essex…in british black history month????2:12 AM · Oct 8, 202170851428jesy nelson profiting off of black culture, when she herself couldn’t even be a good ally to an ex bandmate let alone the black community, whilst black fishing and trying to sing with a blaccent in an attempt to sound hard when she’s from Essex…in british black history month????suruchi`@fentystinit's about time Jesy Nelson is being held accountable! wake it up!7:48 AM · Oct 8, 20213118545it's about time Jesy Nelson is being held accountable! wake it up! https://t.co/OdE8XxPr2sSkylar Ezell is a Black, Broke, and Bougie Writer@Skylar_WriterJesy Nelson’s solo debut #Boyz is cute and the video was a fun 00s throwback. But it’s 4 minutes of blatant cultural appropriation:- The Blackfishing- Lowriders and bikes- Gold teeth- The Blackfishing- The aesthetic- The hair- The lollipops- THE BLACKFISHING😩😩😩11:50 AM · Oct 8, 20211921334Jesy Nelson’s solo debut #Boyz is cute and the video was a fun 00s throwback. But it’s 4 minutes of blatant cultural appropriation:- The Blackfishing- Lowriders and bikes- Gold teeth- The Blackfishing- The aesthetic- The hair- The lollipops- THE BLACKFISHING😩😩😩 https://t.co/YtZ3qzRxZy🖤BOXING DAY DEC 3RD🖤@actressleighOk I’m going to hell for this one #JesyNelson 😭😭😭😭😭11:00 AM · Oct 8, 202145269Ok I’m going to hell for this one #JesyNelson 😭😭😭😭😭 https://t.co/lIhGDA0enLMichelle Bass@iconicmichbassjesy nelson has taken her black fishing to the next level. she’s rachel dolezal’ing us in plain sight at this point.5:51 AM · Oct 8, 202157030jesy nelson has taken her black fishing to the next level. she’s rachel dolezal’ing us in plain sight at this point. https://t.co/ziIcn3sxbxRæ’s æ is getting his bbl while im in Kwnagya@AngelsRaesJesy Nelson got one curly blowout and hasn’t left the black community alone since11:06 AM · Oct 8, 202137428Jesy Nelson got one curly blowout and hasn’t left the black community alone since https://t.co/pRu23VlfbZ@R0SA_D0LL@R0SA_D0LLThese are Jesy Nelson’s parents. This her as a young girl and during/pre debut little mix days. To say she isn’t/hasn’t been blackfishing is a total lie. Her voice is unique and she has the potential, but her attempts to act dumb or deny her behaviour is just annoying.12:15 PM · Oct 9, 202126829These are Jesy Nelson’s parents. This her as a young girl and during/pre debut little mix days. To say she isn’t/hasn’t been blackfishing is a total lie. Her voice is unique and she has the potential, but her attempts to act dumb or deny her behaviour is just annoying. https://t.co/xEiGzJJIdPspooky mar🎃👻| azah stan | STREAM FUE MEJOR@ctrlgngcan’t believe there are people who support jesy nelson when she literally black fishes and yall are blind if you can’t see that😵‍💫4:05 AM · Oct 9, 2021385can’t believe there are people who support jesy nelson when she literally black fishes and yall are blind if you can’t see that😵‍💫 https://t.co/aknawW3WXQ𝓜.@itsriababesThe collective disgust from my TL at Jesy Nelson’s blackfishing, fetishisation of black men and complete hypocrisy, warms my heart3:44 AM · Oct 8, 202154177The collective disgust from my TL at Jesy Nelson’s blackfishing, fetishisation of black men and complete hypocrisy, warms my heartke@tkkeekjesy nelson stans cannot tell me she isn't blackfishing1:12 AM · Oct 8, 20211023jesy nelson stans cannot tell me she isn't blackfishing https://t.co/LKEM0SVCNGThe Devil's Avocado@Annette_KiruI am sorry but Jesy Nelson talking about how she 'tried everything to not be herself' while to this day blackfishing is wild to me. You're still not being yourself doll9:18 AM · Oct 6, 202132930I am sorry but Jesy Nelson talking about how she 'tried everything to not be herself' while to this day blackfishing is wild to me. You're still not being yourself dollAnton Schirripa@YourUncleAntonAre white people not tired? #JesyNelson #blackfishing2:34 AM · Oct 9, 2021Are white people not tired? #JesyNelson #blackfishing https://t.co/arFRR5xq94heavyymetalgirl@hvymetalgirlEeeww at Jesy Nelson blackfishing!2:13 AM · Oct 9, 2021Eeeww at Jesy Nelson blackfishing!vaeh⁹⁹⁹🤍@VaehWorldddWith all the talk about Jesy Nelson , her blackfishing and appropriating black culture is UNDENIABLE. There were absolutely ways she could have paid homage to diddy and done a hip-hop track without appropriating.2:04 AM · Oct 9, 2021With all the talk about Jesy Nelson , her blackfishing and appropriating black culture is UNDENIABLE. There were absolutely ways she could have paid homage to diddy and done a hip-hop track without appropriating.The musician responded to the criticisms during an interview with Variety and defended herself by saying that she is well aware of her ethnicity. She also mentioned that viewers who accused her of blackfishing were blocked from her Instagram by her team members:“I know comments relating to this had previously been deleted from my IG account, I only found out afterwards that a member of my management team had deleted comments. I’ve spent years being bullied online, so I limit the amount I go on socials. My management team have access to my account & they were trying to protect me & my mental health.”The singer also mentioned that she never intended to appropriate African-American culture:“I take all those comments made seriously. I would never intentionally do anything to make myself look racially ambiguous, so that’s why I was initially shocked that the term was directed at me.”Jesy Nelson was previously called out for cultural appropriation after flaunting dreadlocks in a now-deleted 2018 Instagram photo. Earlier this year, she ended up on the Twitter trending page for alleged blackfishing.Several users claimed they were unaware of the singer’s British ethnicity and mistook her as a woman of color for her appearance. It remains to be seen if the latest controversy will have a consequence on Jesy’s solo career.