The artist behind “What Was I Made For?” is currently one of the top musicians in the world, famous for hit songs like “Bad Guy,” “Ocean Eyes,” and “Everything I Wanted.”
Throughout her career, she has set numerous records, including being the only woman to win all four major Grammy categories and the youngest artist to headline Coachella.
Eilish has also been involved in several well-known relationships, such as with rapper Brandon Adams and singer Jesse Rutherford.
In a recent edition of Variety, the “Bellyache” singer appears to have shared that she is also “attracted to women.”
However, she has now expressed that she feels confused by the reaction to her coming out.
In her interview for Variety’s Power of Women issue, Billie Eilish, the artist behind “No Time To Die,” spoke about her experiences as a young woman constantly in the public eye, admitting that she often felt intimidated by other women.
“I’ve never really felt like I could relate to girls very well,” Eilish explained.
“I love them so much. I love them as people. I’m attracted to them as people. I’m attracted to them for real.”
In the same conversation, the Oscar-winning singer discussed her complex relationship with womanhood and how that has been shaped by the overwhelming response to her song “What Was I Made For?”
The track went viral on TikTok following Barbie’s release, and it featured montages with women sharing their personal experiences of girlhood, which Eilish found “moving.”
In the music video, Eilish is seen unpacking miniature versions of her most iconic outfits, like her signature oversized T-shirts and shorts.
She explained that the video’s concept was her way of reinforcing the need to have control over her own body.
Eilish further explained: “I didn’t want people to have access to my body, even visually. I wasn’t strong enough and secure enough to show it. If I had shown it at that time, I would have been completely devastated if people had said anything,”
Eilish went on to express that she had ‘never felt desired or desirable,’ adding, “I’ve never felt like a woman, to be honest with you. I’ve never felt desirable. I’ve never felt feminine. I have to convince myself that I’m, like, a pretty girl.”
“I identify as ‘she/her’ and things like that, but I’ve never really felt like a girl.”
In a cover story with Rolling Stone, Billie Eilish talked more about her sexuality, revealing that her new song “Lunch” is inspired by her crush on a girl. According to the interviewer, she compares having sex with her to savoring a meal.
“That song was actually part of what helped me become who I am, to be real,” Eilish shared.
“I wrote some of it before even doing anything with a girl, and then wrote the rest after. I’ve been in love with girls for my whole life, but I just didn’t understand — until, last year, I realized I wanted my face in a v*****.”
After this interview, Eilish attended Variety’s Hitmakers event with her brother Finneas, where they received the Film Song of the Year award for “What Was I Made For?” from Barbie.
When a reporter asked the 21-year-old if she intended to “come out” during her interview, she replied, “No, I didn’t, but I kinda thought… wasn’t it obvious? I just didn’t realize people didn’t know.”
She went on to express her belief that coming out is not necessary, explaining, “I just don’t really believe in it… why can’t we just exist? I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I just didn’t talk about… whoops.”
When asked about fans’ reactions to her news, she said, “I saw all the articles [and] was like, ‘Oh, I guess I came out today… OK cool.'”
She added, “But it’s exciting to me because I guess people didn’t know, so it’s cool that they know… I am for the girls.”
While Eilish seemed to downplay the comments during the interview, her Instagram activity afterward indicated she was frustrated by the article and the questions it raised.
Posting several photos from the event, she wrote in the caption: “Thanks Variety for my award and for also outing me on a red carpet at 11 am instead of talking about anything else that matters.
“I like boys and girls, leave me alone about it please literally who cares, stream ‘What Was I Made For?'”
Months after the incident, Billie Eilish reflected on it and told Rolling Stone that she believes she “overreacted” to the situation.
She even liked the journalist who asked the question, which made her feel inclined to provide a safe response.
“I went into Billie Eilish interview mode, [like], ‘Oh, I don’t care. Yeah, I’ll say whatever. Wasn’t it obvious?'” she explained. “And then afterward I was like, ‘Wait. It wasn’t obvious to me.'”
Despite that, she still felt “exploited” by the questions, especially as a 22-year-old woman.
“I’ve known people that don’t know their sexuality, or feel comfortable with it, until they’re in their forties, fifties, sixties,” she said.
“It takes a while to find yourself, and I think it’s really unfair the way that the internet bullies you into talking about who you are and what you are.”
