Superstar singer Billie Eilish has apologized after a video surfaced of her apparently mouthing along to a song as an anti-Asian racial slur is used.
Seven-time Grammy winner Eilish posted a statement on her Instagram Stories Monday addressing the edited compilation of videos, which was widely circulated earlier this month. In one clip, Eilish mouthed an anti-Asian racist slur and in another video she apparently imitated an accent. “I am appalled and embarrassed and want to barf that I ever mouthed along to that word,” the 19-year-old 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.” Eilish also addressed the “silly gibberish made up voice,” saying she has used the voice her whole life when talking to 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,” she wrote. “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,” added the singer. “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.
