After will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas went on an Instagram posting spree featuring only photos of the original three members, and Fergie left Interscope and signed a new deal, it seemed clear that she had officially exited the band.
On Thursday, will.i.am, Taboo and apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas confirmed that Fergie had left the band. In a statement to Ahlan! magazine, will.i.am actually seemed to downplay Fergie’s contributions to the band entirely, emphasizing how they’ve always worked with different female vocalists:
Since the beginning of Black Eyed Peas, we’ve always had amazing vocalists that appeared on the mic with us. People like Macy Gray, Esthero, Debi Nova, Fergie. On Elephunk, there were several females that appeared on that album…Obviously Fergie was the featured female, but on songs like ‘Let’s Get it Started,’ it’s Noelle [Scaggs], and then Fergie, songs like ‘Latin Girls,’ it’s Debi Nova, and ‘Request Line,’ it’s Macy Gray. We’ll always work with good females.
But then, confusingly, Fergie announced in a statement released to Billboard that she had not in fact left the Black Eyed Peas:
Fergie is still in the Black Eyed Peas and has an enormous amount of love for her brothers. However, she’s currently focusing on her solo record in partnership with BMG and she’s incredibly excited for her fans to hear her new music.
Then, Will.i.am confirmed she wasn’t gone either:
And then Fergie confirmed that she loves her brothers.
Okay, so Fergie is still in the Black Eyed Peas even though her former bandmates, sorry I mean brothers, sure made it seem like she was. Everyone rest easy!
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Still here. Still without airbrushing. Still with teeth.
