Finneas slams allegations of Billie Eilish's 'Guess' verse being 'Predatory'
In a recent incident, Finneas stepped up to defend his sister, Billie Eilish, against a scorching hot take on her latest remix of "Guess" featuring Charli XCX, reports Rolling Stone. The contentious remark arose on TikTok, posted by an account known for generating reaction-based content designed to instigate strong responses. The user alleged that Eilish's verse in "Guess" was "highly predatory" and accused her of queerbaiting for commercial gain, particularly since the Lost Cause controversy surrounding her Happier Than Ever single.
Seemingly not deterred by the provocative tone of the TikTok, Finneas swiftly responded in the comments. He labeled the user's opinion as a "clownish take" and alluded to the waves of criticism his sister endured over queerbaiting, which, unbeknownst to many, resulted from external pressures to categorize and reveal her sexuality. Eilish herself shed light on her journey of self-discovery through an interview with Rolling Stone earlier this year. Revealing her sexuality and the challenges she faced in accepting and sharing it publicly, Eilish emphasized that discussing her sexuality was a path she never envisioned taking.
Eilish's unintentional coming-out moment occurred during an interview with Variety in 2023 when she mentioned her attraction to women. However, it was only after the event while on the red carpet for Variety's Hitmakers that she acknowledged her intentions, stating, "No, I didn’t. But I kind of thought, ‘Wasn’t it obvious?’" Nonetheless, the incident left Eilish frustrated. Taking to Instagram, she expressed her discontent, stating, "Thanks Variety for my award and for also outing me on a red carpet at 11 a.m. instead of talking about anything else that matters. I like boys and girls, leave me alone about it, please. Literally, who cares."
To NME, Eilish later confessed that her reaction may have been an overextension, but she stood firm in acknowledging the frustration born out of others trying to define her. She voiced her disdain for the pressures imposed by the internet, where individuals were coerced into defining and presenting themselves within specific labels. Eilish asserted that understanding one's own sexuality can take time and that nobody should be hurried or pressured into conforming to someone else's expectations.
In defending his sister, Finneas aimed to address the distortion of Eilish's intentions and underscore the importance of respecting the individual's journey of self-discovery. Eilish's ability to openly and honestly discuss her experiences has provided her with a newfound sense of empowerment and authenticity. Ultimately, the incident served as a reminder that online judgments and derogatory opinions should not dictate one's personal identity or narrative.