Billie Eilish Apologizes After ‘Problematic’ Videos Resurface

Billie Eilish found herself in hot water after some old videos of her resurfaced. In one video, the singer is singing along to a song when she mouths a racial slur. In another video, she seems to be talking in an accent. Brace yourself. Then watch the video below to see what Eilish said and did for yourself.

 

Eilish responded to the controversy on Instagram. She explained the context of the videos and apologized. She started by writing, “I’m being labeled as something that I’m not.” Then she went on put the videos in context.

Eilish explained, “There’s a video edit going around of me when I was 13 or 14 where I mouthed a word from a song that at the time I didn’t know was a derogatory term used against members of the Asian community. I am appalled and embarrassed and want to barf that I ever mouthed along to that word. This song was the only time I’d ever heard that word, as it was never used around me by anyone in my family.”

Even though Eilish explained that she didn’t know the word was a racial slur back when she mouthed along to it, she knew that was not a true apology. She added, “Regardless of my ignorance and age at the time, nothing excuses the fact that it was hurtful. And for that I am sorry.”

As you saw in the video above, there is also another video about Eilish. In this one, she appears to be talking in an accent. Eilish explained that it wasn’t really an accent at all. She wrote, “The other video in that edited clip is me speaking in a silly gibberish made-up voice… something I started doing as a kid and have done my whole life when talking to my pets, friends, and family. It is absolute gibberish and just me goofing around, and is in no way an imitation of anyone or any language, accent, or culture in the slightest. Anyone who knows me has seen me goofing around with voices my whole life.”

Once again, Eilish knew that simply putting the videos in context was not a true apology. She added, “Regardless of how it was interpreted, I did not mean for any of my actions to have caused hurt to others, and it absolutely breaks my heart that it is being labeled now in a way that might cause pain to people hearing it. I not only believe in, but have always worked hard to use my platform to fight for inclusion, kindness, tolerance, equity, and equality. We all need to continue having conversations, listening and learning.”

Do you believe Eilish when she explains that she never intended to mouth a racial slur and that she was simply talking in a “gibberish made-up voice”?