Speculating about someone’s sexuality, especially a young person, feels a little weird. Alas, we are noisy humans and who are we as a publication to deny you of tea?
Now that’s out of the way, fans are buzzing with queer rumors after Billie Eilish shared a selfie to her Instagram story last Friday. That’s not the gay part. What made fans ignite social media with queer theories is the filter over the selfie that says “gay and tired.”
Eilish has never publicly identified as LGBTQ+ before. In fact, an old video of her declaring herself to be “straight as a ruler” has resurfaced on TikTok after the whole gay filter thing. In the video, an interviewer asks Eilish what her sexuality is, to which she answers, “I am straight as a ruler…yeah, I’m very, very, very, very, very straight.”
She adds, “I know, people are like, ‘She made me go gay.’ I’m like, ‘Damn, that’s cool.’ I’m, like, proud.”
Many of the comments on the video are calling said ruler a “slap bracelet.”
In 2021, Eilish’s “Lost Cause” music video featured the singer with a group of girls, dancing, eating whipped cream, playing Twister and lying on top of each other at a sleep over. Because the internet is just as annoying as it is nosy, Eilish faced accusations of “queerbaiting” after the video. She also posted a behind-the-scenes shot of her lying in bed with the actors from the “Lost Cause” music video with the caption “i love girls.” Many criticized her for not explicitly stating she was queer or not. (Go read a book!!!)
Eilish wasn’t having it. During an interview with Elle later that year, Billie addressed the speculation and criticism. “Like, oh yeah, that’s everyone else’s business, right?” she said. “No. Where’s that energy with men?”
You’re absolutely right, Billie. But you can’t blame us for hoping an icon like you is on our team.
