Billie Eilish Faces Scrutiny After a Video Shows Her Mouthing a Racist Slur
Billie Eilish is facing backlash within the past week. Recently, she was scruitnized for “queerbaiting” in her music video for Lost Cause. Now a series of old videos have surfaced on TikTok. The videos show a young Eilish mouthing a derogatory slur against Asians and imitating an accent called a ”blaccent” in another. The video was posted earlier this month by a TikTok user named Lena.
The 19 year-old Grammy winning, Your Power singer issued an apology on her Instagram stories about the TikTok video. One video showed her lip-synching lyrics to a song called “Fish” by Tyler, the Creator from his 2011 album Goblin. The second video shows Billie on her bed, talking in a video. Her brother, Finneas, walks in the room and says that she sounded, “black” and she had a “blaccent.” Fans demanded she apologize for this action and she heeded to it.
that video of billie eilish mocking asian accents and saying “chink” is so upsetting bc i loved her music and thought she was very cool :’( we can never have nice things
— J (@jaegagne) June 17, 2021
“I am appalled and embarrassed and want to barf that I ever mouthed along to that word,” Eilish wrote, adding that she was 13 or 14 at the time.
“This song was the only time I’d ever heard that word as it was never used around me by anyone in my family. Regardless of my ignorance and age at the time, nothing excuses the fact is that it was hurtful. And for that I am sorry.”
The fact that Billie Eilish really thinks the Asian community will forget about her racism after a quick online apology 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/X9irz0qLSq
— joker 🃏 (@thaboyjoker) June 22, 2021
Furthermore, the singer explains the “silly-gibberish” voice she used in the videos was one she used when talking to friends, family and pets, thus, not seeing anything wrong at the time.
Billie Eilish posted an apology after an old clip surfaced of her using a racial slur that is derogatory towards Asian people when she was 14 years-old.
— Bops And Bangers (@bopsandbangers) June 22, 2021
Should she have apologized for something she said 5 years ago? pic.twitter.com/cRHuEiOCmF
“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,” 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,
Yes it’s great that Billie apologized after a LONG time for Asians, but It’s not my place to accept that. BUT let’s not forget the black stans.billie used AAVE, blaccent, and black culture to her advantage and she STILL hasn’t apologized #BillieEilish #billie pic.twitter.com/4EhGcZbr78
— el (@el87438889) June 22, 2021
“I not only believe in, but have always worked hard to use my platform to fight for inclusion, kindness, tolerance, equity and equality,” wrote Eilish.
“We all need to continue having conversations, listening and learning. I hear you and I love you. Thank you for taking the time to read this.”
Billie Eilish using racial slur and mocking Asian people is nothing to be surprised at. but queer baiting in pride month… disgusting#BillieEilishisoverparty
— M (@M_dragoon) June 18, 2021
In a follow-up video, Lena was thrilled about Eilish issuing the apology. However, Eilish is still in hot water. In addition to the racial slurs and mocking accents, she’s faced heat for “queerbaiting” in her most recent music video, Lost Cause.
oh my god. apparently billie eilish used the c slur, used a blaccent, and is dating a racist homophobe???? what the fuck
— lex is chat’s gf! (@SINKSCH4T) June 14, 2021
The video showed Eilish having a slumber party with a group of girls where they were dancing sensually against each other. Then Eilish posted on Instagram pictures of the music video where she captioned, “I love girls.” Shortly after the post, news broke about Eilish dating an openly racist, homophobic, 30 year-old man. Fans were outraged by this, feeling deceived and mislead. She has yet to apologize.
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