In a surprising revelation, Grammy-winning artist Billie Eilish recently addressed her unintentional public coming out during an interview with Variety last month. The singer-songwriter, known for her chart-topping hits and bold style, attended Variety’s Hitmakers event on Saturday where she candidly spoke about the unexpected disclosure.
In the wide-ranging interview with Variety last month, part of the magazine’s Power of Women series, Eilish openly discussed her physical attraction to women. However, during the Hitmakers event, when questioned by a reporter about whether she had intended to come out through the article, Eilish responded with a laugh, “No, I didn’t. But I kinda thought, ‘wasn’t it obvious?'”
The artist expressed surprise at the revelation not being apparent, stating, “I didn’t realize people didn’t know… I just don’t really believe in it. I’m like, why can’t we just exist? I’ve been doing this for a long time and I just didn’t talk about it. Whoops.”
In the November cover story, Eilish detailed her relationships with women, describing herself as a “girls girl” while acknowledging her difficulty in relating to them. “I love them so much. I’m attracted to them as people. I’m attracted to them for real,” she declared. However, she also admitted feeling intimidated by their beauty and presence.
Following the article’s release, speculation about Eilish’s sexuality heightened among fans, but the artist has yet to adopt any official label. Eilish, who faced accusations of “queerbaiting” in the past, shut down such scrutiny in 2021, asserting, “Or my sexuality! Like, oh yeah, that’s everyone else’s business, right? No. Where’s that energy with men?”
Reflecting on the unintended revelation, Eilish remarked on Saturday, “I saw the article and I was like, ‘Oh! I guess I came out today.’ But it’s exciting to me because, you know, I guess people didn’t know, so it’s cool that they know, but I’m nervous talking about it.” She concluded, “But yeah, I am for the girls.”
During the Hitmakers event, Eilish was awarded Film Song of the Year for her track “What Was I Made For” from the Barbie movie. The irony wasn’t lost on Eilish, as the song plays during a crucial scene in the film exploring themes of femininity and the essence of being a woman.
Maintaining her signature humor, when asked if she still found women intimidating, Eilish joked, “I’m still scared of them but I think they’re pretty.” Eilish’s unintentional coming out adds a new layer to her public persona, highlighting her commitment to authenticity and breaking societal norms in both her music and personal life.
Billie Eilish opens up about coming out in her Variety cover story: "I didn't realize people didn't know!" | Variety Hitmakers presented by @sonyelectronics https://t.co/xxmgD0zs3Y pic.twitter.com/uDDbCk6tgp
— Variety (@Variety) December 2, 2023
Photo : Getty Images
