The 2018 BRIT Awards was about music, glamour and expensive outfits. But for Little Mix star, Jesy Nelson, it was also about reliving embarrassing moments in front of millions of people.
During the show at London’s O2 Arena, host Jack Whitehall sat down with the singer – and her bandmates, Jade Thirlwall, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Perrie Edwards – to ask if their fans had been voting for them to win an award.
And he managed to slip in a cheeky reference to the now-infamous video of Jesy trying to do a Jamaican accent.
He said: “This is all going to kick off, I can feel it… Last month you hit three billion views onYouTube – and only two billion of those are people watching you try to do a Jamaican accent, Jesy…”
Jesy, 26, looked perturbed as the audience laughed. Jade glanced awkwardly at the camera, Perrie burst out laughing and Leigh-Anne simply grimaced.
Jack, 29, continued quickly: “Are your fans going to be voting for you like crazy tonight?”
Choosing to ignore the dig, Jesy replied: “Well I hope so, they’re the most dedicated fans, so loyal, so yeah.”
The 2014 video of Jesy has been widely mocked, and quickly became an internet meme. It shows her playing an accent game where she tries to do a Jamaican accent and instead makes a weird face and a bizarre noise.
She later confirmed it bothered her that everyone kept bringing it up, telling the Huff Post: “Oh my god, the most [annoying]! So much. It isn’t my Jamaican accent, it’s annoying.”
But Twitter disagreed, erupting with glee over the Fresh Meat actor’s joke.
They loved it, writing: “Jack Whitehall bringing up Jesy Nelson’s Jamaican accent on national television is the best thing I’ve ever had the pleasure of witnessing.”
Another commented: “Crying at Jack mentioning Jesy’s Jamaican impression.” A third added: “Actually screaming at Jack Whitehall calling out Jesy’s Jamaican accent.”
Others pointed out the X Factor star didn’t seem to enjoy it, commenting: “”
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