Little Mix SPLIT! Trio announce they’re ‘taking a break’ to pursue solo projects

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Little Mix – consisting of Jade Thirlwall, 28, Perrie Edwards, 28, and Leigh-Anne Pinnock, 30 – have announced the group is taking a break after ‘ten amazing years’.

Taking to Twitter on Thursday, Little Mix revealed the news in a series of heartfelt tweets, explaining: ‘We feel the time is right to take a break so we can recharge and work on some other projects.’

The news comes after weeks of rumours surrounding the band’s break-up.

They wrote in full: ‘We wanted to let you all know that after the Confetti tour in April/May next year we are going to be taking a break from Little Mix.

‘It’s been 10 amazing years, a wonderful non-stop adventure, and we feel the time is right to take a break so we can recharge and work on some other projects.

‘We can’t thank you enough for your love and never-ending support since the beginning. We love you all SO much.’

Little Mix went on: ‘We are not splitting up – Little Mix are here to stay. We have plans for more music, tours and performances in the future. We’ve made so many incredible memories with you all, and we can’t wait to make so many more. 

‘We’re sisters and we’ll always have each other and you, the fans, in our lives. Little Mix is forever, see you on tour! Jade, Leigh-Anne and Perrie.’ 

Little Mix also posted a video compilation of some of their favourite moments over the years. 

Devastated Little Mix fans were quick to express their sadness at the band’s decision.

One wrote: ‘STOP IM CRYING,’ while another dramatically commented: ‘Crying and Sliding down a wall right now. I love you ladies so much you warm my hearts!’  

A third reacted saying: ‘I am crying! Little mix will always be forever’ before another added: ‘So sad. I hope is not a 1D type of break.’

Many other expressed the same fear that the band would never reunite, like One Direction did after splitting in 2016 to pursue solo careers.    

One said: ‘*Traumatic 1D flashbacks*’ as another wrote under the announcement: ‘i hope this isn’t a ‘one direction’ break lmao’. 

Someone else who was upset by the decision wrote: ‘I’m crying but I’m happy for yous at the same time, sisters forever.’

Another fan said: ‘NOOOOOO i’ve heard that one before, don’t leave us. thank you for everything thing, i love you girls ❤️.’

Someone else fumed: ‘DONT LEAVE US LIKE ONE DIRECTION LEFT ME.’ 

Last month Little Mix continued to defy the split rumours surrounding them. 

The group appeared on Capital Breakfast to discuss their greatest hits album and to vow to keep going for years ‘like The Rolling Stones’.

The chat came after Jesy Nelson left the group last December, citing a decline in her mental health. 

Part of her statement at the time said: #The truth is recently being in the band has really taken a toll on my mental health. I find the constant pressure of being in a girl group and living up to expectations very hard.

‘So after much consideration and with a heavy heart, I’m announcing I’m leaving Little Mix. I need to spend some time with the people I love, doing things that make me happy. I’m ready to embark on a new chapter in my life – I’m not sure what it’s going to look like right now, but I hope you’ll still be there to support me.’  

Since Jesy’s departure, Little Mix have been dogged with rumours of a split or hiatus which radio star Sonny Jay asked about in their latest appearance.

Perrie said: ‘I think no matter what Little Mix do, whether we venture out individually, whatever we do, Little Mix is forever, like Jade said…  

‘We’ll always stick together, we’ll always tour, we’ll always do things together as a group, because, Little Mix is just, it’s fire…

‘And I hate to say it, what we have is something special and we know that, and we know that Little Mix as the three of us is so so strong, so we never want that to be over, never ever ever’.  

Jade then interjected to push: ‘You know like the Rolling Stones, how they’re still going… Yeah honestly! I want people to be sick of us in 50 year’s time’.

Roman Kemp pushed that the girls are ‘best friends and always in touch’, which they all agreed with during the candid chat on the show.

Jesy’s departure from the group last year was attributed to the strains being in a girl band put on her mental health, which she has documented in public, including revealing a suicide attempt.

Upon the release of her first single Boyz, she was hit with allegations of ‘Blackfishing’, a row in which Leigh-Anne was soon in embroiled.   

Blackfishing is used to describe a white person attempting to appear to have black heritage.

In October, Jade revealed the group warned Jesy about blackfishing before her shock exit from the group last year.

The Boyz singer was criticised in Instagram messages by her former bandmate Leigh-Anne for appropriating black culture and darkening her skin with fake tan and changing her hair in the ‘Boyz’ video. 

Jade told Stella magazine: ‘We don’t want to talk about the video, or be critical, but one thing we will clarify regarding the blackfishing situation is that Jesy was approached by the group in a very friendly, educational manner.’  

Leigh-Anne added: ‘Capitalising on aspects of blackness without having to endure the daily realities of the black experience is problematic and harmful to people of colour.

‘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.’ 

Leigh-Anne also slammed Jesy in leaked Instagram messages sent to influencer NoHun, prompting Jesy’s Boyz collaborator Nicki Minaj to accuse Leigh-Anne of trying to ruin Jesy’s new solo career. 

Discussing her and Jesy’s new single in an Instagram Live, Nicki branded Leigh-Anne and the rest of the group ‘jealous miserable clowns’.   

Jesy was then said to be ‘devastated’ Leigh-Anne had ‘sparked racial hatred’ and a new wave of intense trolling towards her, telling pals she couldn’t believe ‘someone she once called family could be so cruel.’

However, a source clarified to MailOnline at the time: ‘It’s not fair to criticise Leigh-Anne over this. She was just upset as were others over blackfishing, and social media is awash with it.’

However, last month, Jesy admitted it’s ‘sad’ she doesn’t speak to Little Mix anymore.  

The singer told Graham Norton there’s ‘no bad blood’ between herself and ex-bandmates after the blackfishing controversy over her Boyz music video.  

Jesy said she ‘loved’ her time with Little Mix and ‘wishes them all the best,’ and said that after releasing her first solo single she’s hoping to record an album in 2022.

Asked about her departure from Little Mix, Jesy said: ‘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.

‘I loved my time with them, and we’ve got the most incredible memories together, but 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.’

News of Little Mix’s split was first reported in October when The Sun revealed the group would call it a day as a trio with an announcement in mid-November. 

The paper reported that ‘the end of the road had been reached’ and that the girls’ upcoming tour reported would be a final farewell to their devoted fans. 

A source told the publication: ‘There has been a lot of speculation about the future of Little Mix but it is now very clear that the end of the road has been reached.

‘A date is set to announce the split. The upcoming tour is going to be a farewell to their fans.’

Little Mix, alongside former member Jesy, formed on The X Factor in 2011, becoming the first ever group to win the competition. 

Jesy is not the only Little Mixer to have moved on to pastures new, with Leigh-Ann recently landing a role in festive film Boxing Day.

The star was joined at the film’s London premiere by Perrie and Jade on Tuesday, proving that the group will be supporting one another on their future solo ventures.

What’s more, both Leigh-Ann and Perrie became first-time parents this year, which likely influenced their decision to step away from the group.

 Leigh-Ann welcomed twins with her fiancé Andre Gray in August, while Perrie and beau Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain welcomed a son named Axel that same month. 

Little Mix marked their ten year anniversary last month with a new single called Between Us and explained they wanted to celebrate ‘friendship and sisterhood and their amazing relationship with their fans’ in the stunning emotional ballad.  

It marked the fourth track that the band had released as a trio following Jesy’s departure.

Perrie said of the song: ‘Between Us is basically the song that we’re never going to be able to get through live! We’re going to be in floods of tears in front of everyone. It’s just such a cute stunning song, I love it so much.’ 

Leigh-Anne chimed: ‘I love how we reference Little Mix songs in the lyrics. We feel each other’s emotions 24/7, we’ve gone through everything together. It’s about ten years of friendship and sisterhood and our amazing relationship with our fans.’  

One of the girls’ earliest singles, Wings, is mentioned in the second verse, alongside songs Bounce Back and Power: ‘Remember the day when we finally found our wings? It changed our lives, gave us power to do anything and any time they break us down, we bounce back, every track, had your back.’

Jade added: ‘It’s one of those songs that anyone can listen to and think of someone that they truly love. It’s nice that we’re gonna have this song forever.’

The band have recently been celebrating ten years of Little Mix and released new album Between Us on November 12th.   

The album is a celebration of a decade of global hits from a record-breaking pop band.

All of their biggest hits are featured on the album including their number one singles Wings, Black Magic, Shout Out To My Ex and Sweet Melody.

They feature alongside major tunes such as Touch, Move, Power, Salute and their latest smash collaboration with Galantis and David Guetta – Heartbreak Anthem – which has so far been streamed over 400 million times.

Over the last decade, Jade, Leigh-Anne and Perrie have established themselves as the world’s biggest girl band – having sold over 50 million records worldwide, collected over 19 million Spotify listeners, received over 3 billion YouTube views, and collated 12 billion streams worldwide.  

2021 has proved to be a record-breaking year so far for the band. Earlier this year Little Mix won ‘Best British Group’ at the 2021 BRIT Awards, the first female group in history to ever win the award.  

This July saw the girls celebrate 100 weeks in the Official UK Singles Chart Top 10, the most for a girl band in history.

After the achievement, Leigh-Anne told Little Mix fans on Official Charts: ‘Wow! It’s amazing, and we wouldn’t have done this without you guys.   

A collective 100 weeks in the Top 10 far exceeds any other girl group in UK chart history.

Girls Aloud were the closest to hitting the landmark with 61 weeks in the singles chart, with iconic Motown group The Supremes just behind with 59 weeks.  

And even the iconic British girl power group Spice Girls couldn’t hit the record as they only managed 50 weeks in the top 10 singles chart.

Little Mix have landed 18 UK top 10 singles to date, including five number ones – with Sweet Melody topping the charts most recently in January this year.   

‘You never fail to blow us away – you’re just incredible and we wouldn’t be here without you. Thank you.’ 

Their 6th album ‘Confetti’ spawned four hit singles and had track sales of over 4 million.

2022 will see the band finally hit the road with their highly anticipated Confetti Tour gracing arenas across the UK and Ireland.   

Jesy, Perrie, Jade and Leigh-Anne all took part in series eight of the X Factor in 2011, with fate bringing them together as a foursome. 

Jesy, born in Romford and working as a barmaid at the time, floored judges when she belted out Bust Your Windows.

Not only had Jesy attended a prestigious theatre school, but she had already landed roles as an extra in the likes of Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire and About A Boy.

However, Jesy fell at the bootcamp challenge hurdle and as a result was paired with Perrie, a 17-year-old who hailed from South Shields.

The duo formed a two-person group called Faux Pas and as a result were allowed through to the next round of the competition.

High Wycombe-born Pizza Hut waitress Leigh-Anne and Jade, who also grew up in South Shields, were also in the competition as a two-piece called Orion.

By 2011, Jade had already auctioned for the X Factor three times – the first being in 2008.

Neither Faux Pas or Orion made it through to the next round of the competition, however judge Kelly Rowland made the decision to conjoin the two groups and after their first performance as a foursome declared: ‘I like them together, they look fricking great together.’

Jesy, Perrie, Jade and Leigh-Anne initially named their group Rythmix before changing their name to Little Mix, and the rest is history.  

For Perrie, it wasn’t just worldwide fame that she found on the X Factor, with the star also striking up a romance with a competitor from another group on the show.

She started a relationship with One Direction’s Zayn Malik in 2012 and the loved-up couple became engaged a year later.

However, their romance was hit by rumours that Zayn had cheated and the two called it quits in 2015 when he dumped his fiancee over text, according to Perrie.

Perrie has since found love with Alex and the two share three-month-old son Axel.

Jesy was also one half of a high-profile engagement after Coleen Nolan’s son Jake Roche asked the hit-maker to marry her in 2015. 

When their romance fizzled out, Jesy’s next high-profile relationship was with Love Island star Chris Hughes. 

However the pair broke up last year after 16 months together.

Meanwhile, Jade celebrated her one-year anniversary with Rizzle Kicks’ Jordan Stephens in May. 

From telling song lyrics to tense group chats and talk of uncontrollable tears: All the signs Little Mix were set to split as they announce they’re ‘taking a break’ after 10 years

Little Mix devastated fans on Thursday as they announced they are taking a break after ‘ten amazing years’. 

Taking to Twitter, the trio revealed the news in a series of heartfelt tweets, explaining: ‘We feel the time is right to take a break so we can recharge and work on some other projects.’

However, news of the split may not comes as too much of a shock to some as the group previously dropped hints that they were set to go their separate ways in the future.

So as the music world processes the loss of one of the most successful girl groups in history, MailOnline take a look back at all the moments Little Mix showed signs they were planning to call it a day. 

Emotional song leaves band in ‘floods of tears’ 

Fans recently spotted a big sign that an announcement was on the cards as the girls admitted they’ll be in ‘floods of tears’ when performing their song Between Us on their Confetti tour next year. 

Speaking in a video shared to their Instagram last month, Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall opened up about how the song made them feel, admitting it will be an emotional moment when it comes to performing it. 

Perrie explained: ‘It’s a song we will never be able to get through live.’

And as the others agreed it makes them ‘cry’, she continued: ‘Every night on tour I think we are just going to be in floods of tears. It’s just such a cute, stunning song.’

Her poignant words hint that the song’s heartfelt lyrics could trigger all the emotions as they take to the stage on what will now essentially be their farewell tour.  

Between Us lyrics – a farewell song? 

Although Between Us has been dubbed the ultimate friendship anthem that looks back on the girls’ time as a band over the last 10 years, it could now be said that the track is a goodbye anthem to each other and their loyal fans. 

One line includes: ‘When the curtains close and all of the lights go down, Safe to say I’ll stay, I will always stick around’.

The line certainly alludes to the group coming to an end, with the girls reassuring that their friendship will continue no matter what. 

Another line hinting that their bond will never end despite going their separate ways reads: ‘I swear that we won’t lose this thing we found. ‘Cause love will never leave us. Nothing comes between us.’

Jade admits the opportunity to do individual things is ‘really lovely’ 

As rumours around a potential split continued to swirl over the past few months – especially in the wake of the drama surrounding former member Jesy Nelson, Jade appeared to fan the flames as she opened up on the idea of the girls doing solo projects.

In an interview with Gay Times Magazine, the singer told how the opportunity to do things individually was ‘really love’ and that the girls doing their own thing was ‘beautiful to see’.

She said: ‘Oh, this is really lovely actually’ because as an individual you’re then getting the opportunity to show the public a bit more about yourself and what you’re actually passionate about.

However, she confessed that they were still ‘terrified’ at the thought of doing something for yourself’ after a decade of constantly working as a group. 

Jade added that the trio have managed to get their work ‘balance right’ and will always ‘champion each other’s success’, but are safe in the knowledge that they will forever have Little Mix to fall back on. 

Perrie reaffirms their bond as she discusses Little Mix ‘venturing out individually’

Elsewhere, Perrie also touched on the trio’s solo projects and once again discussed their unbreakable bond, once again hinting that the end was near.

Speaking on Capital Radio earlier this month, the new mum addressed the split rumours while reassuring fans of Little Mix continuing to work together in the future.

She said: ‘I think no matter what Little Mix do, whether we venture out individually, whatever we do, Little Mix is forever, like Jade said.

‘We’ll always stick together, we’ll always tour, we’ll always do things together as a group, because, Little Mix is just, it’s fire.’

Body language expert hints things weren’t right with the group for YEARS

In the wake of the news Little Mix were taking a break, body language expert Judi James reveals that the cracks began to show in the band quite some time ago, telling The Sun: ‘The wonder of Little Mix is less about splits and more about how they managed to stay together as a foursome for as long as they did.’

Looking back at pictures over their 10 year career, Judi picked up on moments which appeared to show the yearning for individuality, while another hinted that the group were in ‘crisis mode’. 

In one image of the group – including Jesy – posing at the 2017 Jingle Bell Ball, Judi notes that the group were ‘striving for their own individuality’, with Jesy rocking pink hair, while they failed to make physical contact while posing.

She penned: ‘There are also now signs of an active avoidance of touch as though the girls are growing up and no longer keen to just be seen as part of a ‘peas in a pod’ style team.’

A different snap on 2019 Brits red carpet sees the foursome donning glamorous outfits while pulling their best leggy poses for the camera.

But while it may be seen as innocent posing, Judi reckoned it was a sign of the girls heading in different directs as they, in particularly Perrie and Jesy were ‘competing for attention’.

Elsewhere, in an image taken from the group’s talent show The Search last year, Judi suggested that a tense conversation between the girls hinted that they were in ‘crisis mode’.

Explaining their body language, she said: ‘This pose looks much more emotion-based as the girls seem lost in a meaningful discussion. Jesy sits out of the cluster here but looking back in towards the other three and the conversation and eye contact exchange seems to be between her and Perrie.’

She added that Leigh-Anne and Jade adopted ‘passive poses’ and that group looked ‘more adult and individual’, with the body language ‘signalling the style of discussions’ they may have needed to have at the start of their career together.  

Little Mix’s break announcement was shared on social media, with their statement reading in full: ‘We wanted to let you all know that after the Confetti tour in April/May next year we are going to be taking a break from Little Mix.

‘It’s been 10 amazing years, a wonderful non-stop adventure, and we feel the time is right to take a break so we can recharge and work on some other projects.

‘We can’t thank you enough for your love and never-ending support since the beginning. We love you all SO much.’

Little Mix went on: ‘We are not splitting up – Little Mix are here to stay. We have plans for more music, tours and performances in the future. We’ve made so many incredible memories with you all, and we can’t wait to make so many more.

‘We’re sisters and we’ll always have each other and you, the fans, in our lives. Little Mix is forever, see you on tour! Jade, Leigh-Anne and Perrie.’ 

Little Mix also posted a video compilation of some of their favourite moments over the years. 

Devastated Little Mix fans were quick to express their sadness at the band’s decision.

One wrote: ‘STOP IM CRYING,’ while another dramatically commented: ‘Crying and Sliding down a wall right now. I love you ladies so much you warm my hearts!’ 

A third reacted saying: ‘I am crying! Little mix will always be forever’ before another added: ‘So sad. I hope is not a 1D type of break.’

Many other expressed the same fear that the band would never reunite, like One Direction did after splitting in 2016 to pursue solo careers. 

Last month Little Mix continued to defy the split rumours surrounding them. 

The group appeared on Capital Breakfast to discuss their greatest hits album and to vow to keep going for years ‘like The Rolling Stones’.

The chat came after Jesy Nelson left the group last December, citing a decline in her mental health.