This past week, British girl group Little Mix released a new single, not-so-stealthily titled “Shout Out To My Ex.” It is a shout-out, after all! If you are or were at any point a megafan of One Direction, you likely know that boy band member Zayn Malik was formerly involved with one of the ladies of Little Mix, Perrie Edwards. These were the days before the Instagram reigning of Gigi Hadid et. al.—and yes, there was a time when Malik and Edwards were engaged to be married!
Their relationship ended rather messily after Malik’s departure from One Direction in May of 2015 and his subsequent breakup with Edwards via text message. In true pop star fashion, however, Edwards came right back at her ex with a tell-all book and a wonderfully catchy breakup single that we already can't get enough of. Little Mix performed the soon-to-be hit on the X Factor UK this past weekend, demonstrating their fierce, unapologetic showstopping skills.
Edwards opens up the song, singing, “This is a shout out to my ex / Heard he in love with some other chick … I hope she gettin’ better sex / Hope she ain’t fakin’ it like I did, babe.” Honestly, Taylor Swift should be taking notes. No holds barred, Edwards and her fellow bandmates are straight up exposing their former lovers’...inabilities to please and how their exes’ failings made them stronger. You go, girls.
Breakup songs are great. Breakup song wars? Yes, please. We’ll be waiting, speakers ready!