Jade Thirlwall makes ‘brutal swipe at Simon Cowell’ with her new single It Girl as fans pick up on thinly-veiled lyrics from the track
Jade Thirlwall appears to have attacked her former music manager Simon Cowell with thinly veiled lyrics in her new single.
The former Little Mix star, 32, started her solo career in 2024 with the track Angel of My Dreams and followed that up with Fantasy.
But on Friday she released her third single It Girl and fans quickly discovered one particular lyric that seemed to be a dig at her former boss.
The singer rose to worldwide fame in 2011 when she won The X Factor alongside Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jesy Nelson and Perrie Edwards.
Under the music mogul’s guidance they enjoyed huge success, but Jade had initially auditioned for the ITV talent show twice before.
She made it to the show’s Bootcamp stage alone, and her new single repeats the lyrics “It’s a no from me” several times.
Jade Thirlwall appears to have criticized Simon Cowell in her new single and fans have noticed
As part of Little Mix, Jade enjoyed great success under the guidance of music mogul Simon (pictured), but she had already auditioned for the ITV talent show twice before
The words were a catchphrase Simon said when he was a judge on the series, and fans believe it was a direct hit for him.
One fan wrote on X: ‘The reference to ‘It’s a no from me’ is ultimately a masterpiece’
Another said: ‘omg is that Simon Cowell shade’
A third said: ‘I think it’s shade on Simon Cowell because before Little Mix Jade auditioned three times.
‘She was rejected the first and second time and the third time she was put in with Little Mix.’
And a fourth declared: “The reference to ‘It’s a no from me’ is ultimately a masterpiece.”
Despite this, Cowell’s representatives have previously explained that the Little Mix team ‘worked incredibly hard’ to make them the success they became.
The group folded in 2021, but the representatives were confident there was no bad blood between them.
Jade had initially auditioned twice for the ITV talent show before finding success as part of Little Mix (pictured in 2008)
In 2011, she returned to the series – by which time they were held in front of a live audience – and eventually became part of the winning girl group.
Jade (pictured with LR Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Perrie Edwards and Jesy Nelson) found huge success with Little Mix after becoming the first ever group to win The X Factor.
In one shot, the singer struck a moody pose in a pair of fishnets as she held a banner that read “CELEBRITY” and looked sensational in the sports bra and boots combo.
Jade gave fans a sneak peek of the video this weekend, just days after the song itself was released
The former Little Mix star, 32, launched her solo career in 2024 with the song Angel of My Dreams and followed that up with Fantasy
A representative said: ‘The whole team who have worked incredibly hard behind the scenes with Little Mix to make the group a success would no doubt always continue to wish them solo success.’
MailOnline has contacted Simon Cowell’s representatives for comment on the new claims.
Jade gave fans a sneak peek of the video this weekend, just days after the song itself was released.
In one shot, the singer struck a moody pose in a pair of fishnets as she held a banner that read “CELEBRITY” and looked sensational in the sports bra and boots combo.
In another photo, she is seen from behind walking away from the set, with the same word written on her behind.