Leigh-Anne Pinnock Recounts 'Awful' Racist Abuse and Fan Discord

Leigh-Anne Pinnock has detailed the "awful" racist abuse she experienced during her time in the girl group Little Mix. The singer, currently a participant in Celebrity Traitors, revealed in a recent episode of the "Mad Sad Bad with Paloma Faith" podcast that she was frequently targeted by online trolls.

Pinnock described a complex relationship with social media, acknowledging the positive connection with fans but also the "dark side" of online interactions. She noted that going solo has exposed her to even more negative comments. "Trolls make me mad," she stated, admitting she still searches for her name on X (formerly Twitter), though she tries to focus less on negativity.

Recalling some of the most hurtful comments from her younger days, Pinnock shared that she was often referred to as "the black one in Little Mix" with added derogatory remarks about her singing abilities. "'The black one in Little Mix can't sing' or 'the black one in Little Mix da, da, da,'" she recounted.

She has observed a shift in online sentiment since Little Mix disbanded in 2022, noting that fans of the group have begun to turn against one another. "All of us girls have our own fan bases naturally, but then obviously we'll have fans that will come with all of us and appreciate all of us," Pinnock explained. "But what makes me mad is seeing the different fan bases attacking each other and then attacking each of us as well, like bringing us down."

Pinnock found this division particularly baffling given the close bond she shared with her bandmates. "That's so sad. It's bizarre because we are all so close and like sisters. So why would you then as a fan attack the other guy? Do you know what I mean? It just doesn't make any sense."

In recent news, Pinnock also addressed online reactions to her pregnancy. She shared a video of herself embracing her baby bump, accompanied by lyrics from a new song: "Throw your dumb opinions, at the window, I don't want to know." She captioned the clip, "When embracing your baby bump makes people feel uncomfortable," adding, "Throw your dumb opinions out the window... free the bump."

Pinnock announced her third pregnancy in July via a social media video, writing, "As one chapter ends, another begins." Her former bandmates Jade Thirlwall and Perrie Edwards expressed their congratulations. Pinnock is expecting her third child with her husband, footballer Andre Gray, with whom she already has five-year-old twin daughters. The couple married in June 2023.