‘I always feel like I’m the least favoured’: Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock breaks down in tears as she shares emotional video about racism
- The Little Mix star, 28, took to Instagram to share the emotional video as she candidly spoke about her own experiences with racism
- Leigh-Anne, whose bandmates are Jesy Nelson, Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall, tearfully admitted that she feels ‘invisible’ at times in the group
- The star also shared that she always feels like the ‘least favoured’ and has to work ‘ten times harder’ in Little Mix
- Hundreds and thousands of people started protesting across the world this week following George Floyd’s death
- Footage emerged of a handcuffed Floyd choking to death while being restrained by officer Derek Chauvin in the US, he knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes
Leigh-Anne Pinnock shared an emotional video about racism on Friday night.
The Little Mix star, 28, took to Instagram to share the heartbreaking message as she candidly spoke about her own experiences and anxiety battle.
Leigh-Anne, whose bandmates are Jesy Nelson, Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall, tearfully admitted that she feels ‘invisible’ at times in the group.
Scroll down for video
Emotional: Leigh-Anne Pinnock shared an emotional video about racism on Friday night
The star also shared that she always feels like the ‘least favoured’ and has to work ‘ten times harder’ in Little Mix.
Leigh-Anne said during the five minute video: ‘My reality is feeling anxious before fan events and signings because I always feel like I’m the least favoured.
‘My reality is constantly feeling like I have to work ten times harder and longer to make my case in the group, because my talent alone isn’t enough. My reality is all the times I felt invisible within my group.
‘Part of me is fully aware that my experience would have been ever harder to deal with had I been dark-skinned. Our reality is no matter how far you think you’ve come, racism exists.
Tearful: The Little Mix star, 28, took to Instagram to share the heartbreaking message as she candidly spoke about her own experiences and anxiety battle
‘Invisible’: Leigh-Anne, far right, whose bandmates are Jesy Nelson, Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall (L-R), tearfully admitted that she feels ‘invisible’ at times in the group
‘So let’s all continue to speak up on racism and keep this movement going. Thank you.’
Leigh-Anne also recalled how a director she worked with during filming for their hit track Wings, nine years ago, told her ‘you are the black girl, you have to work ten times harder’.
She added: ‘There comes a point in every black human’s life … you realise racism does not exclude you. Nine years ago, after joining Little Mix, I had the biggest awakening of my life.
‘When we were filming Wings, we worked with Frank Gatson. He said to me, “You are the black girl, you have to work ten times harder.” Never in my life had someone told me I would need to work harder because of my race.
‘Ten times harder’: The star also shared that she always feels like the ‘least favoured’ and has to work ‘ten times harder’ in Little Mix
Upsetting: Leigh-Anne, pictured far left with Little Mix in 2019, said during the five minute video: ‘My reality is feeling anxious before fan events and signings because I always feel like I’m the least favoured.’
‘My reality was feeling lonely while touring predominantly white countries. I sang to fans who don’t see me or hear me or cheer me on.’
Leigh-Anne captioned the video with: ‘Like many of you, I have been feeling really heavy with everything that we are seeing online and hearing on the news. In the past I have mentioned some personal experiences that were triggered due to my race.
‘More than ever I felt like it was time that I was completely open and honest with you all because finally, the world is awake and people want to listen, help and understand.
‘I’m not doing this video for sympathy or for you to watch and then go about normal life. I’m doing it because enough is enough and hopefully from sharing this we can all do more to understand the racism that takes place.
She added: ‘My reality is constantly feeling like I have to work ten times harder and longer to make my case in the group, because my talent alone isn’t enough.’
Speaking out: Leigh-Anne captioned the video with: ‘Like many of you, I have been feeling really heavy with everything that we are seeing online and hearing on the news.’
‘In doing this we are able to approach the bigger issue and break down systemic racism. All we want is equality and justice for our black community.’
Leigh-Anne’s Little Mix bandmates Jesy, 28, and Jade, 27, shared their support as they commented on the video.
Jesy posted three heart emojis while Jade put: ‘My sister [heart emoji] proud of you ✨.’
Hundreds and thousands of people have been protesting this week after footage emerged of a handcuffed George Floyd choking to death while being restrained by white police officer Derek Chauvin in Minnesota on Monday May 25.
Demonstrations have been seen in Denver, Louisville, Washington DC and New York after shocking footage emerged of police officer Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes.
Support: Leigh-Anne’s Little Mix bandmates Jesy, 28, and Jade, 27, shared their support as they commented on the video
There have also been protests in the UK, Ireland and Australia.
Floyd, 46, could be heard pleading for the officer to get off him saying ‘I can’t breathe!’ He was taken to hospital where he died.
Chauvin has now been charged with 2nd-degree murder which is more severe than the 3rd-degree murder, which he was initially charged with.
He faces three charges; 2nd-degree murder, 3rd-degree murder and 2nd-degree manslaughter. The most severe charges carry a maximum sentence of 40 years imprisonment.
Thomas Lane, J.A. Kueng and Tou Thao, the three other officers also present, were charged on Wednesday with aiding and abetting the murder of Floyd. They have also been charged with second degree aiding and abetting manslaughter.
Rage: Thousands of people have been protesting this week after footage emerged of a handcuffed George Floyd (pictured) choking to death while being restrained by white police officer Derek Chauvin in Minnesota. He knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes.
Source: Read Full Article