"Nothing excuses the fact is that it was hurtful," wrote Billie Eilish (courtesy billieeilish)
Highlights
- Billie Eilish issued an apology in her Instagram story
- "I'm being labelled something that I am not," she wrote
- "I mouthed a word that I didn't know was derogatory," she added
Pop sensation Billie Eilish issued a lengthy apology on her Instagram story recently after a few old videos of her resurfaced on the Internet as a compilation and went crazy viral. In the video, a much younger version of the Grammy-winning singer can be heard mouthing a term racially derogatory towards Asians while singing the Tyler, The Creator's 2011 song Fish. Following the video, Billie Eilish was criticised for appearing to be racist, which prompted this apology: "I love you guys, and many of you have been asking me to address this. And this is something that I want to address because I'm being labelled something that I am not. 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 and 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. Regardless of my ignorance and age at the time, nothing excuses the fact is that it was hurtful. And for that I am sorry," she added.
In another video in the viral compilation, Billie Eilish can be seen speaking in a muffled manner, appearing to imitate a certain accent. In her apology note, Billie Eilish also attached a clarification and 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."
"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," the statement continues. "I not only believe in, but have always worked hard to use my platform to fight for inclusion, kindness, tolerance, equity and equality," she added.
Read Billie Eilish's full statement here:
Billie Eilish, a Grammy winning singer, has an impressive resume - her most popular hit albums and singles include When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, Everything I Wanted, Wish You Were Gay, Don't Smile At Me, Ocean Eyes, My Strange Addiction, Belly Ache and Bury A Friend, among others. Her latest album Happier Than Ever is all set to release on July 30.