Encryption | Billie Eilish comes off unimpressive

Cover-girl

The story begins in the November 13 issue Variety Publishes a written interview with Billie Eilish Cover-girl of the number. When asked a question, Billie Eilish casually mentions his attraction to women. The material lends itself to it: Variety Honored translator of bad guy As part of its Power of Women event celebrating the achievements of women. Billie Eilish explains that for a long time she believed that women didn’t like her. The 21-year-old says: “I never felt that I could get along well with girls. I love them so much. I love them as people. I was inspired by them as a person. I was really drawn to them. »

highlighted

Two weeks later, on December 2, these comments – first announced without much fanfare – were highlighted. On the red carpet VarietyBillie Eilish gives a video interview to producer Diana Denicola Variety, manifesting himself in a relationship with a woman. The latter asks her if she still has the idea that women don’t like her. “I’m always afraid of them, but I think they’re beautiful,” Billie Eilish replied, which made the interviewer react. “Would you like to do yours, Billy? coming out In this story? » “No,” replies the singer. But I said to myself: Isn’t it clear? I don’t realize people don’t know this. » says he doesn’t really believe in the concept coming out “Why can’t we be?” »

powder lane

This part of the interview is going viral on social media. Traditional media picks up the news. Billy Eilish’s sexual orientation is discussed in all forums, which provokes many reactions, both positive and negative. The artist lost 100,000 followers on Instagram, then 50,000, but he gained almost as many. Angered by this media hype, Billie Eilish makes an update on Instagram. ” Thanks, Variety, to my cost, and for bringing me out of the closet on the red carpet at 11am instead of talking about everything else that matters. I love boys and girls,” he wrote, “never mind” and asked her to “leave her alone” on the matter and listen to her music instead. “Let’s respect his decision to make it a non-event and keep listening to his music,” it declares. Vogue France (ironically after devoting a long essay to the saga).

Reality check

Martin Blais, head of research on sexual diversity and gender diversity, likes to say that this is not a phenomenon. He would have preferred not to even have to deal with it. But the reality is that society hasn’t yet reached the point where sexual orientation is seen as a “topic,” he says: the noise surrounding the news and the diversity of his followers on Instagram demonstrate this well. “The idea that it’s not an object, it’s an idea that can simply slip into this aspect of ourselves, not in the form of an admission and confession,” he explains. According to Marie Houzo, general director of GRIS-Montréal, many people want sexual orientation to become a characteristic of a person like many others. She says this view exists among some groups of young people, but for her it remains a minority. “I understand that Billie Eilish was probably honestly surprised at how big it was, but it was a reality check, probably even for her,” he says.

Importance of models

In this story, we can think about unsubscribed Instagram subscribers. For future sponsors who may be reluctant to collaborate with Billie Eilish in a divided American society. But we can think of all those who feel lonely and recognize themselves in her, Martin Blais underlines. While artists still have some kind of price to pay, there’s also a lot to gain. “This representation in the media by famous people plays a very important role in the visibility of people, communities and identities,” he says. Although we wish it was a non-subject, it is important to do so. » There are still some models of bisexuality, pansexuality and lesbian women, Marie Housio underlines. That’s why Billie Eilish’s comments made so much noise. “The more this noise is shared, the more it becomes completely natural,” he concludes.