Pop singer Billie Eilish is known for her genre-bending dark music and for her eclectic style.
Eilish almost exclusively appears in public adorned with large, baggy clothing. Eilish has long maintained that this choice forces fans to judge her based on her music alone, since they don’t know what her body looks like.
Last weekend, however, a Twitter user took it upon himself to demonstrate that Eilish was probably right about the perils of showing off one’s body as a young female pop star when he posted a rare picture of her in a tank top with the caption, “Billie Eilish is THICK.” Eilish is only 17.
Fans were quick to respond to the tweet with a surge of resentment against the sexualization of women’s bodies in public contexts. Some responders even suggested that the remark was harmless, prompting a larger discussion about the nature of stardom and the line between misogyny and simple physical attraction.
It’s sad that women honestly have to announce they don’t want to be sexualized and even wear certain clothing not to be but there’s still creeps who will go ahead and STILL do so- smh
— 𝒌𝒊𝒂𝒓𝒂 ⁷ ❧ ⟭⟬ BLM (@spicyshooky) June 23, 2019
Stressed out? Bc I'm agreeing with others on this post, that Billie went out of her way to express this as a concern? You don't get to decide how someone's words affect another. Additionally it isn't one person, & they didn't say attractive. They said thick, referring to her body
— madison. (@madz_369) June 23, 2019
PS – I'm all for complimenting ppl. Billie is gorgeous.
— Pokket 🌈 (@Pokket) June 23, 2019
I'm not for calling a 17 yo "thick" & posting multiple photos of her cleavage then saying "she's legal." It's obvious OP wasn't just complimenting her. Learn the difference, dudes (who complained abt this in replies/dms).
hope billie never sees this. i don’t know what’s worse. you sexualizing a minor or you sexualizing someone who has gone out of their way to cover themselves.
— sj valenz (@getvindictive) June 23, 2019
Do you think that the backlash against the Tweet is an overreaction, or does the Tweet go over the line? Let us know in the comments below!
