- On Saturday, photos of the 17-year-old singer Billie Eilish in a white tank top began circulating on Twitter, posted by a user who called Eilish “thick.”
- Upset at the sexual overtones of the comments, fans of Eilish defended the singer on social media, calling the comments “gross” and “nasty.”
- The original poster of the photos later defended the decision to comment on the singer’s body, saying Eilish’s lyrics and age make it acceptable.
- Eilish has said in the past that she avoids wearing form-fitting clothes because she’s afraid of being sexualized.
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Fans of the 17-year-old “Bad Guy” singer Billie Eilish have defended her on Twitter after an account posted photos of her in a tank top on Saturday and included some sexually objectifying comments.
The original tweet called Eilish “thick,” and subsequent tweets included additional photos of Eilish in the same outfit.
Billie Eilish is THICK pic.twitter.com/aNSGvJJYOA
— k (@PogbaEscobar) June 22, 2019
Man… pic.twitter.com/68TWMkgOkx
— k (@PogbaEscobar) June 23, 2019
While a few commenters felt comfortable praising Eilish’s figure, many were quick to condemn the account that posted the photos, saying the user was “gross” and “nasty” for sexually objectifying a teenage girl.
https://twitter.com/biticonjustine/status/1142667852031246336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
These men on Twitter are straight NASTY and DISGUSTING for sexualizing Billie Eilish.
— your local soft goth 🐰 (@starzx2000) June 24, 2019
Billie Eilish is a MINOR. 17. Y'all are creepy ass weirdos and need to stop
— willem dahoe (@hummusnchill) June 23, 2019
Especially infuriating to fans was the fact that Eilish has previously spoken about wearing baggy clothes to avoid being objectified.
"That's why I wear big, baggy clothes," she said in a Calvin Klein ad earlier this year. "Nobody can have an opinion, because they haven't seen what's underneath."
https://twitter.com/fullmetalcunt/status/1142831909166174208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
billie eilish literally said she wears baggy clothes so she doesn’t get sexualized and the minute she shows some skin y’all sexualize her? gross https://t.co/JXbCz3fDKf
— 2019 Predictions (@2019_predicts) June 23, 2019
Billie Eilish says she wears baggy clothes cos what u can't see u can't body shame. And that's really sad.
That's the world we live in. People now hide themselves to be free of you 21st century bullies.— SHE (@PoshAgabi) June 24, 2019
not gonna retweet OP for reasons, but...
BILLIE EILISH IS 17 YEARS OLD. she’s explicitly stated that she wears baggy clothing bc she doesn’t want to be sexualized. and the one time she unzips her hoodie, the internet is on her like fucking vultures. i’m sick. y’all are depraved.
— tori (@seitanwhore) June 23, 2019
Fans were also enraged at the original poster's attempts to defend the decision by claiming that Eilish isn't a minor and highlighting her lyrics and previous Instagram posts as evidence that she already sexualizes herself.
🗣🗣🗣 Billie Eilish is not a minor. Stop it. She’s legal now in almost half of the country, and all countries outside of the US.
— k (@PogbaEscobar) June 23, 2019
This girl literally said “bruises on both my knees for you” , “might seduce your dad”
BUT I’M ONE WHO’S SEXUALIZING HER???
LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
— k (@PogbaEscobar) June 23, 2019
The controversy surrounding the sexualization of Eilish, a teenager, also caused some Twitter users to open up about their experiences dealing with unwanted attention because of their bodies.
feel well upset about the billie eilish pic going round atm, as someone who felt super uncomfortable having big boobs from a v young age its upsetting to see ppl comment on her body even tho she always tries to hide it
— 𝖑𝖆𝖚𝖗𝖊𝖓 (@_lxuren__) June 23, 2019
I feel rlly bad for Billie Eilish 🙁 I hATEd it when people made comments on my boobs. Sometimes I wore my school jacket in the summer just because I wanted to keep them hidden 🙁
— ugly (@tryinmydamnbest) June 24, 2019
I feel Billie Eilish's pain! I wore baggy clothes sometimes to hide the fact that I was heavy chested (still am) because I was uncomfortable by the unwanted attention I received at 15/16. If it wasn't already clear, society needs to stop sexualizing teenage girls! #MondayThoughts https://t.co/sPqDplFAHB pic.twitter.com/14cMjPuWU5
— Stephanye (@simplystephanye) June 24, 2019
Eilish has also been on the other side of public outrage. The singer previously made headlines for dedicating a song to the rapper XXXTentacion after his death last year. The rapper was accused of domestic abuse and aggravated battery of a pregnant woman.
Eilish's song "Wish You Were Gay" has also been criticized as offensive to LGBTQ communities, something the singer has pushed back on.