Billie Eilish ‘appalled and embarrassed’ by slur in resurfaced footage
Popstar Billie Eilish has apologised after a video emerged of her appearing to mouth an anti-Asian slur. The singer said she is “appalled and embarrassed” over the footage.
In the video posted on TikTok, Eilish appears to month an anti-Asian slur and speaking in various accents.
In a lengthy statement, she said she was aged 13 or 14 at the time and did not know the word was derogatory but said she wanted to address the criticism.
“I am appalled and embarrassed and want to barf that i ever mouthed along to that word,” the Grammy-winning star wrote. “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.”
Billie Eilish rose to fame in 2019 and won big at the Grammys in 2021, she said the footage of her imitating accents in another clip was just “silly gibberish made up voice.”
She added: “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 said she did not mean to cause offence and the prospect of causing hurt “absolutely breaks my heart.”
She finished her statement by writing: “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. i hear you and i love you. thank you for taking the time to read this.”
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