Jade Thirlwall’s first solo performance at Capital’s Summertime Ball went off without a hitch but backstage things weren’t so smooth.
The IT Girl hitmaker strutted on stage for her set, which consisted of two solo tracks and a mashup of Little Mix’s Shout Out to My Ex and Sweet Melody.
With only three songs to play with, some cuts had to be made but Jade, 32, hinted at tension behind the scenes over which tracks would make it on stage.
While being interviewed by the Summertime Ball hosts, presenter Chris Stark asked if she would be giving a ‘sneaky peek’ of her new song, Plastic Box.
‘No, I’m not actually,’ Jade carefully replied. ‘But that’s because you guys said no.’
In the studio, her response prompted laughter from the presenters with the singer smiling and giggling; however, fans online haven’t taken it so well.
‘It’s the fact that they used her as an opener to get “bums on seats” and then made her do Little Mix songs for half her set. I’m glad she called them out for it,’ wrote _shadesdaddy on X.
‘The art of promotion is DEAD and 9 times out of 10 it’s beyond the artists control,’ added KoskasOwl. ‘God forbid an artist tries to promote their new material… Y’all see why the charts (everywhere not just UK) are as bland and as stale as they are????’
And_rew_thom said: ‘This is a mess you can tell global force them to perform their hits rather than promote their new music like they are THERE TO DO. Same with Zara and I’m fumin!’
Zara Larsson was also on the lineup, and fans commented that she didn’t play her new song Midnight Sun either.
Jade’s song is due to be released on Friday, June 20, while Zara dropped her latest track days ago — before Summertime Ball.
Meanwhile, KSI and Benson Boone both sang new tracks while on stage, as did fellow Little Mix star Perrie Edwards at her Jingle Bell Ball performance in December.
And_rew_thom added: ‘Benson Boone and KSI: “this next song I’ve never played before”. JADE and Zara Larsson: “I’m not allowed to play my new single”.’
Fans have been left confused by Jade’s subtle shade, wondering why the restriction was put in place at all.
The clip has been shared widely online but is not viewable on Capital’s Global Player, raising more eyebrows among fans.
Jade then posted a snap from the ball, with only a snake emoji rather than a long caption, as she did for Mighty Hoopla and Radio 1’s Big Weekend.
This added to online speculation, although the Angel of My Dreams hitmaker did later share a story saying ‘Thank you always’ to Capital.
‘My first solo Summertime Ball,’ she added with heart hands and flower emojis. First, but hopefully not the last.
She has previously played the show with her bandmates from Little Mix in 2016 and 2017.
The group has been on hiatus for several years, following the exit of Jesy Nelson in 2020, and each has now released solo music.
Metro has reached out to Jade’s team and Capital for comment.
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