Billie Eilish has apologized right after a video surfaced appearing to demonstrate the American singer mouthing a racial slur and putting on accents.
In a statement posted on Instagram, the multiple Grammy Award winner reported she was “appalled and embarrassed” by a compilation edit of movies from when she was 13 or 14 yrs outdated.
In 1 clip, she can be viewed mouthing the slur while lip-syncing together to Tyler, The Creator’s 2011 track, Fish. In her assertion, Eilish reported that at the time she did not know that the term “was a derogatory term used towards users of the Asian neighborhood.”
“I am appalled and ashamed and want to barf that I at any time mouthed along to that term,” said Eilish, now 19.
“This tune was the only time I’d at any time read that word as it was never applied all over me by any one in my loved ones. Irrespective of my ignorance and age at the time, absolutely nothing excuses the actuality is that it was hurtful. And for that I am sorry.”
The compilation online video shared on TikTok this month also showed a different clip of what it claimed was Eilish “mocking Asians.”
In her statement, Eilish mentioned she was talking in a “silly gibberish manufactured up voice,” one thing she explained she experienced completed since childhood when chatting to “pets, pals and spouse and children.”
“It … is in no way an imitation of everyone or any language, accent, or tradition in the slightest,” she said.
“Everyone who is aware of me has witnessed me goofing close to with voices my total everyday living. Regardless of how it was interpreted I did not signify for any of my actions to have brought about harm to other individuals.”
Subsequent a spate of assaults on Asian Americans since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. President Joe Biden last thirty day period signed into legislation the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act.
“I am getting labelled something that I am not,” Eilish claimed, introducing that she was addressing the video clip clip just after admirers experienced requested her to respond.
“I … have normally labored tough to use my platform to battle for inclusion, kindness, tolerance, fairness and equality.”