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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Celebrities devider Billie Eilish apologizes over racial slur

Billie Eilish apologizes over racial slur

Published Jun 23, 2021 04:06 pm

American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish has released a statement following a viral video that offended some netizens.

On Instagram, the 19-year-old singer wrote: "I love you guys, and many of you have been asking me to address this, and this is something that I WANT to address because I'm being labeled something that I am not."

Billie then started explaining about the clip.

"There's a video edit going around of me when I was 13 or 14 where 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 started.

According to her, she's "appalled" and "embarrassed" and wants to barf that she ever mouthed along to that word.

"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 that time, nothing excuses the fact that it was hurtful. And for that I am sorry," she said about her video mouthing an anti-Asian racial slur while mouthing along to Tyler, The Creator's 2011 "Fish."

Billie also explained her side about another clip where she was allegedly mocking a different accent.

"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 has 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 pointed out. "Anyone who knows me has seen me goofing around with voices my whole life."

The well-loved international artist added: "Any of my actions 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."

Billie reiterated that she not only believes in but has always worked hard to use her platform to fight for "inclusion, kindness, tolerance, equity, and equality."

"We all need to continue having conversations, listening, and learning," she said. "I hear you and I love you. Thank you for taking the time to read this."

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