Billie Eilish has apologised for a years-old video that recently surfaced on TikTok of the now 19-year-old lip-syncing to Tyler, The Creator’s ‘Fish’, which features an anti-Asian slur in the lyrics
“i mouthed a word from a song that at the time i didn’t know was a derogatory term used against members of the asian community. i am appalled and embarrassed,” she wrote in an Instagram story.
“the fact is that it was hurtful. and for that i am sorry.” She noted that she was around 13 or 14 when the video was taken.
The clip was posted to TikTok by a user named Lena earlier in the month.
The video also showed Eilish speaking in an voice that some viewers interpreted as derogatory. In the statement, she says that she was “speaking in a silly gibberish made up voice… something i started doing as a kid and 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.”
In a follow up video on TikTok, Lena responded to Eilish’s apology, posting a video with the caption “she finally addressed this !!!” adding that it was “understandable and good that she finally said something”.
Billie Eilish is currently gearing up to release her second record Happier Than Ever on Friday, 30th July.
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