MTV EMAs: Little Mix pay tribute to absent Jesy Nelson after singer misses star-studded show due to ‘sickness’… as they collect TWO gongs
Little Mix paid tribute to absent bandmate Jesy Nelson as they won the Best Pop gong at the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) on Sunday evening.
The girl group hosted the event, which was beamed virtually from various European cities rather than one host country due to ongoing travel restrictions and safety concerns prompted by the COVID-19 crisis.
But they were forced to accept individual awards for Best Pop and Best UK & Ireland Act as a three-piece after Jesy was unable to attend due to ‘sickness.’
Reaching out: Little Mix paid tribute to absent bandmate Jesy Nelson as they won the Best Pop gong at the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) on Sunday evening
The singer, 29, also missed the finale of the band’s BBC talent show The Search with the same mystery condition.
Reaching out to their band-mate, Leigh-Anne Pinnock said: ‘Oh my gosh, this is amazing. We just so wish our girl Jesy was here to receive this with us. She would be so happy.
‘Thank you so much to our fans. You guys are just the best, you’re like our best friends. You have our backs, you’re just incredible.’
Absent: The group were forced to accept individual awards for Best Pop and Best UK & Ireland Act as a three-piece after Jesy (pictured) was unable to attend due to ‘sickness’
Following the ceremony, Little Mix – also made up of Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall – admitted they had “a blast” hosting the spectacle, but “missed” Jesy.
A post on their official Twitter account read: ‘Tonight was the best Fire. Thank you for letting us host @mtvema, we had a BLAST!! We missed you Jesy
‘Thank you to everyone who voted for us to win Best UK & Ireland act and Best Pop. Love you all Mixers (sic)’
Thinking of you: Reaching out to their band-mate, Leigh-Anne Pinnock said, ‘Oh my gosh, this is amazing. We just so wish our girl Jesy was here to receive this with us. She would be so happy’
Top honour: The group accepted awards for Best Pop and Best UK & Ireland Act as a three-piece
Ecstatic: The three band-mates looked delighted as they took to the stage on Sunday evening
The girls also paid tribute to Jesy on their respective Instagram accounts after sharing a series of images from the event with followers.
Jade wrote: ‘Years ago we dreamed of even being invited to the @mtv EMAs. Tonight we hosted the show, performed and won 2 awards, the only thing missing was our Jesy.
‘Thank you so much to all of our fans who voted and to @mtvema for having us.’
Not forgotten: The girls also paid tribute to Jesy on their respective Instagram accounts after sharing a series of images from the event with followers
Perrie added: ‘What a DREAM come TRUE. To our amazing fans THANK YOU. Thank you for EVERYTHING you do.
‘We hosted, performed and won TWO AWARDS all thanks to you. Wish our girl Jesy coulda been there! Thanks @mtvema for having us!’
While Leigh-Anne wrote: ‘Hol up?? Did someone say two EMA awards? I can’t believe we hosted, performed and then to top it all off you guys won us TWO EMA’s!
A blast: The absent star was later mentioned on the official Little Mix Twitter account
‘Where would we be without our mixers???? You guys are truly the best fans anyone could ever ask for!
‘We just so wish Jesy could have been there too! thank you so much @mtvema for having us.’
As well as hosting and picking up prizes, the band also performed latest single Sweet Melody from London.