Billie Eilish at the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards. Image source: Glenn Francis/Pacific Pro Digital Photography via Wikimedia Commons.
What Was the Accusation?
In June 2021, Billie Eilish faced criticism after an edited compilation video circulated on TikTok and other social media platforms. The resurfaced clips appeared to show Eilish, when she was about 13 or 14 years old, mouthing an anti-Asian slur while lip-syncing to Tyler, the Creator’s song “Fish.” The same online discussion also accused her of using a voice that some viewers interpreted as mocking Asian accents. The controversy drew attention because Eilish was already a highly visible public figure with a large young audience, and because the criticism appeared during a period of heightened public concern about anti-Asian racism and harassment.
Eilish responded through an Instagram Story statement on June 21, 2021. She said she was embarrassed by the resurfaced clip, explained that she had not known the word was derogatory when she mouthed it as a young teenager, and emphasized that age and ignorance did not excuse the hurt caused. She also denied intending to imitate or mock any language, accent, or culture, describing the second clip as a made-up voice she had used jokingly since childhood. Her response combined remorse, explanation, and reaffirmation of her values, especially inclusion, kindness, tolerance, equity, and equality.
A stable primary transcript of Eilish’s full Instagram Story statement is not currently available. The apology was issued as temporary Instagram Story text rather than through a permanent official video, press release, or archived statement. News coverage reports that Eilish apologized for mouthing the slur, said she was embarrassed by the resurfaced clip, explained that she did not know the word’s meaning when she was younger, denied that her made-up voice was intended to mock any language or culture, and urged continued conversation, listening, and learning.
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