Singer Billie Eilish has apologized after she was seen mouthing an anti-Asian slur in an old video that recently resurfaced, BBC News reports.
Eilish apologized for the video in an Instagram post, where she said she was “appalled and embarrassed” by the video.
- “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,” she admitted. “i am appalled and embarrassed and want to barf that i ever mouthed along to that word.”
Eilish said she didn’t understand the word represented a slur and didn’t understand its meaning, either.
- “Regardless of my ignorance and age at the time, nothing excuses the fact is that it was hurtful,” she wrote. “and for that i am sorry.”
Billie Eilish apologizes for using a racial slur in an old music video for Tyler the Creator.
Screenshot, Billie Eilish’s Instagram story
Clips from the video started making the rounds on TikTok earlier this month. It appears to be from the song “Fish” by Tyler The Creator.
It’s unclear which racial slur Eilish said. However, Eilish does speak in different accents in the video, too, according to BBC News.
Eilish said some of the accents were an example of her acting silly and goofing around, according to Deadline. She didn’t mean to offend anyone.
- “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,” she wrote. “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.”
Eilish finished her apology by calling for more inclusion and diversity, something she truly believes in.
- “i not only believe in, but have always worked hard to use my platform to fight for inclusion, kindness, tolerance, equity and equality,” she continued. “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.”