Black Eyed Peas Perform W/ New Lead Singer At The VMAs, Fans Wonder Where Fergie Is

Black Eyed Peas Perform W/ New Lead Singer At The VMAs, Fans Wonder Where Fergie Is

The Black Eyed Peas released their first single without Fergie, titled “Street Livin’” on January 9, 2018. A month later, will.i.am confirmed that Fergie would not be featured on the group’s seventh studio album. Instead, Jessica Reynoso (stage name “J. Rey Soul”), former The Voice of the Philippines season 1 finalist and Team Apl.de.ap member, joined the group as the female vocalist and “semi-official” member.

https://youtu.be/KjLFcJscU70

See how social media reacted to Fergie, being replaced,

Fergie watching this mess in her couch #VMAs https://t.co/DVWpOgUlQb

— Toro (@omgheytoro) August 31, 2020

https://twitter.com/beygency4/status/1300257693110800387?s=20

Um thats not Fergie?!?! #VMAs pic.twitter.com/RdTsGW9I6c

— I said so. (@charcekage) August 31, 2020

https://twitter.com/palepikachu/status/1300261459205730304?s=20

Fergie at home right now #VMAs pic.twitter.com/wwhmT3ISsD

— c. (@JamesonNoChaser) August 31, 2020

https://twitter.com/stawpfeenin/status/1300257983150960647?s=20

THEY REALLY DOING I GOTTA FEELING WITHOUT FERGIE IM DONE IM DONE #VMAs https://t.co/oElrCsDUFr

— ambiance (@ambixcx) August 31, 2020

Fergie with son Axl

Black Eyed Peas members Will.i.am, Taboo and Apl.de.ap say that they are still on good terms with Fergie. will.i.am said she left the group to,

“devote more time to parenting her 6-year-old son, Axl.” 

“We love her, and she’s focusing on being a mom. That’s a hard job, and that’s what she really wants to do and we’re here for her, and she knows how to contact us for a retreat or a breakaway,”

“We try to keep in touch. We reach out every once in a while and say our hellos and happy birthdays and Merry Christmas and Happy Easter. She knows where we’re at! We’re at the studio.”

Apl.de.ap added that the group’s schedules didn’t mesh with Fergie’s desire to be a present mom for her child.

“Fergie is our sister, so even with these small connections, she’s always going to be our sister. But unfortunately our schedule is displaced by (her) wanting to be a great mom, and she wants to focus on that. And like Will said, we support her 100%.”

Recently, Black Eyed Peas released their eighth studio album, “Translation.” Fergie took to Twitter to send well wishes to her former group.

Last year, the first female vocalist of Black Eyed Peas, Kim Hill spoke out about her vocals being replaced by Fergie, and how new management pressured her to be oversexualized.

“There was new management now, so it’s a whole different set of expectations and pressure. It just started to get clumsy and messy. You want me to grind on Will.i.am in a bathing suit? That was being asked of me, never by the guys. That was happening from an executive level.”

She added,

“The tug of war was about my sexuality and how much of that I was willing to like, literally strip down. I never wanted to be objectified while doing my music. ‘Where’s your voice? Where are you?’”

What are your thoughts on Black Eyed Peas’ new lead singer? Let us know in the comments!