Billie Eilish Wants to Remind You Her Body Is None of Your Business
Billie Eilish has never been afraid to speak out against body-shaming and the expectations of women in the music industry. The artist has always used her platform to address the public scrutiny that comes from being in the public eye — and her latest outlet is none other than her Where Do We Go? World Tour.
On March 9, during the first night of her 60-stop tour, the Grammy winner wowed her Miami audience with a video interlude that addressed the commentary and body-shaming she’s faced for her fashion choices, PopCrave noted.
The video, which features Billie removing her top and lowering herself into black water, played to a background monologue from the artist. In it, she asks us, “Do you really know me? You have opinions about my opinions, about my music, about my clothes, about my body.”
As the video advances, Billie’s words continue to echo. “Some people hate what I wear, some people praise it. Some people use it to shame others, some people use it to shame me. But I feel you watching. Always. And nothing I do goes unseen. So while I feel your stares, your disapproval, or your sigh of relief; if I lived by them, I’d never be able to move.”
The interlude ends as she disappears into the black water, addressing those that have judged her body directly. “Would you like me to be smaller? Weaker? Softer? Taller?” she asks. “If I wear what is comfortable, I am not a woman. If I shed the layers, I’m a slut.”
“Though you’ve never seen my body, you still judge it and judge me for it. Why? You make assumptions about people based on their size. We decide who they are. We decide what they’re worth,” the artist also says in the video. “If I wear more, if I wear less, who decides what that makes me? What that means? Is my value based only on your perception? Or is your opinion of me not my responsibility?”
Billie is known for wearing baggy clothing, and she discussed the reason behind her decision to do so in a Calvin Klein ad last year. “Nobody can have an opinion because they haven’t seen what’s underneath,” Billie said in the ad. The ad was released after a photo of Billie wearing a tank top had been circulating the internet, causing many to comment on the then 17-year-old’s body.
Billie’s powerful interlude addresses the fact that no one should have to hide their body to avoid harassment. Inspired by her courage, fans took to Twitter to praise her message. “The strongest, most empowering woman i know. billie eilish,” one Twitter user wrote. Another praised Billie’s monologue directly, writing, “the speech is the only thing that matters!!!!!”
While it’s undeniably a shame that Billie has been forced to face body-shaming from such a young age, we’re continuously inspired by how she uses her platform to take a stand and make a difference. This interlude was without a doubt a powerful start to her world tour, and you can bet we’ll tune in to see what she has in store for us next.
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Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
