Billie Eilish, who rose to fame at just 14 when her song Ocean Eyes went viral on SoundCloud in 2015, has since become a global music icon. At 22, she boasts an impressive career with seven top 10 hits, nine Grammy Awards, and two American Music Awards, among other honors.
Alongside her brother and frequent collaborator Finneas O’Connell, Eilish has contributed to major film soundtracks, including No Time to Die for the James Bond franchise and Barbie.
However, like many public figures, she hasn’t been immune to backlash. In one notable instance, a single photo she shared on Instagram led to a dramatic drop—reportedly losing 100,000 followers in just one hour.
Eilish has been in the limelight since a young age, and while her fame and success continue to rise, it has often come with scrutiny.
Over the years, the singer’s fans have seen the star evolve – she’s experimented with her style and looks, from green to red hair.
In 2021, around the time of her upcoming album ‘Happier Than Ever,’ Eilish debuted a new style on the cover of British Vogue.
She was pictured with blonde bombshell hair and a corset, a look some fans adored. However, others criticized her.
One said: “I used to love Billie until she changed.”
Another added: “Bring back the green hair!”
“Not a role model anymore,” a third person commented.
At the time, Eilish took to Instagram and responded to the haters.
The singer said (per CBS): “I spent the first 5 years of my career getting absolutely obliterated by you fools for being boyish and dressing how I did and constantly being told I’d be hotter if I acted like a woman.
“And now when I feel comfortable enough to wear anything remotely feminine or fitting, I changed and am a sellout.”
She added: “I can be both.”
In an interview with Elle, Eilish referenced the Vogue photoshoot backlash and stated: “People hold on to these memories and have an attachment. But it’s very dehumanizing.”
This isn’t the only time the ‘bad guy’ singer has stood up to fans.
In 2020, Eilish participated in the ‘post a picture’ trend, leading fans to ask the singer to share a ‘drawing you’re really proud of,’ reports The Independent.
The then 19-year-old shared a page from her sketchbook which featured a drawing of breasts, as well as nude women.
She commented: “These probably lol I love b**bs.”
Following the post, Eilish’s Instagram follower count reportedly dropped by around 100,000, from 73 million to 72.9 million.
In response, the ‘everything i wanted’ artist took to her stories and said: “LMFAOOO y’all babies smh.”
