Latest news with #BillieEilish
Metro
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Billie Eilish faces backlash for telling audience 'everybody looks like me'
Billie Eilish comments to the crowd at her concert in Ireland on July 26 have sparked controversy. The popstar recently wrapped up the UK and European leg of her giant Hit Me Hard And Soft Tour, where she played at Dublin's 3Arena for the final two shows. Between songs, the Happier Than Ever singer said to the crowd: 'Obviously, I am not from here, but it's really cool to come somewhere and everybody looks exactly like you, and you're all just as pasty as me.' She continued: 'I love it. It just makes me feel so seen. Also, a thousand of my relatives are in the crowd right now, I'm pretty sure.' The crowd roared their approval, and Eilish ended the sentiment by saying, 'I love it here – it's so beautiful and you are all so beautiful and I see so many familiar faces out there.' For many Irish fans, the moment felt like a tender nod to shared roots as Eilish has previously spoken about her Irish and Scottish ancestry. But online, her words sparked a flurry of criticism, with some social media users accusing her of insensitivity or 'casual racism,' arguing that 'everybody looks like me' is a dangerous generalization, even if said with affection. Supporters quickly defended her, with one X user, @sabwarrioranu, writing: 'She's made jokes about being pale before btw. She was just trying to express how nice it feels to be around where your family comes from that's all so give her a break. I swear Billie gets dragged for the dumbest stuff.' @bittersuite agreed: 'Spinning this into anything other than someone openly of irish descent complimenting & connecting with the fans of the same descent is strange for you to do. i can never count on men for critical thinking though i guess.' Billie Eilish celebrates return to Irish homeland. "It's really cool to come somewhere and everyone looks exactly like you". — Gearóid Murphy (@gearoidmurphy_) July 28, 2025 While the Dublin shows marked the end of her European dates, earlier performances in Manchester had fans buzzing for a different reason. On July 19, during one of four nights at Co-op Live Arena, Eilish revealed she was working on a secretive project with none other than Avatar and Titanic director James Cameron. Noting the unusual number of cameras positioned around the arena, she teased the crowd, saying, 'You may have noticed there's more cameras than usual up here. I can't say much, but I am working on something really, really special with James Cameron. And it's going to be in 3D.' Cameron, famous for revolutionizing film with technological innovation, was reportedly seen at one of the Manchester shows, adding fuel to the speculation. Eilish hinted she had worn the same outfit for all four nights to maintain continuity for the camera crew – a sign that the footage is being compiled into a larger narrative project. More Trending All this comes on the back of Hit Me Hard and Soft, released in May 2025 to critical acclaim and commercial success. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, with over 339,000 units in its first week, and songs like Lunch, Chihiro, and Birds of a Feather have already become iconic. The Dublin shows were the final stop in Europe; she heads to Japan in August, then North America in the fall, with the tour wrapping up in November. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Jamie Lee Curtis reveals she's already started 'retiring' from Hollywood MORE: 'Brutal' film based on harrowing true story finally comes to Netflix MORE: Myleene Klass caught ex-husband cheating on her with celebrity known for 'family values'
Sunday World
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
In demand Kneecap to play two sold-out rooftop shows in New York following Hungary ban
The controversial Belfast-based rap trio will join the list of major stars who have appeared at the city's prestigious The Rooftop at Pier 17 venue in October Kneecap are set to play two sold-out rooftop shows in New York later this year in the wake of their ban on performing in Hungary. The controversial Belfast-based rap trio will join the list of major stars who have appeared at the city's prestigious The Rooftop at Pier 17 venue on October 1 and 10. Described as New York City's most scenic concert venue, with views of the Brooklyn Bridge, and Empire State Building, The Rooftop has played host to Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, Tate McRae, and the Fugees, whose first reunited performance in over 15 years took place there in 2021. They have also announced another European show in September at the Gasometer in Vienna. The group, who are outspoken supporters of Palestine, were due to perform at Sziget Festival on August 11. . News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday, July 29 Kneecap said 'there is no legal basis' for Hungary banning the act from entering the country ahead of their scheduled appearance at the music festival. However, Government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs wrote on social media platform X that the decision to ban Kneecap was because the group's 'members repeatedly engage in antisemitic hate speech supporting terrorism and terrorist groups'. In a statement posted on Instagram, Kneecap described the decision to bar them from entry as 'political distraction' and pointed out that none of the group has any criminal convictions. A spokeswoman for Sziget Festival also described the move as 'unnecessary and regrettable'. 'Cancel culture and cultural boycotts are not the solution,' she added. The statement from Kneecap said: 'To the tens of thousands of fans who we were buzzing to see in person at Sziget, we're sorry we won't be with you. 'The authoritarian government of Viktor Orban say we 'pose a national security threat'. 'Which is f****** outrageous coming from a man who welcomed Netanyahu, a wanted war criminal, like a hero just a few weeks ago. 'There is no legal basis for his actions, no member of Kneecap has ever been convicted of any crime in any country. We stand against all hate crimes and Kneecap champions love and solidarity as well as calling out injustices whenever we see it. 'It's clear that this is political distraction and a further attempt to silence those who call out genocide against the Palestinian people.' Kneecap have had several shows cancelled in recent months, including TRNSMT festival in Glasgow and at the Eden Project in Cornwall. They claim this is part of a smear campaign against them because of their vocal support for Palestine and criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza, which they say is a genocide. The statement posted earlier on Thursday by Mr Kovacs said: 'Hungary has zero tolerance for antisemitism in any form. 'Their planned performance posed a national security threat, and for this reason, the group has been formally banned from Hungary for three years. 'If they enter, expulsion will follow under international norms.' The spokeswoman for Sziget Festival said: 'Following concerns raised by government and pressure groups across Hungary over the past weeks at the prospect of Kneecap performing, we have liaised closely with the band and they reassured us that their performance would not contravene either Sziget's values or Hungarian law. 'Over the past 30 years, Sziget has served as a free and safe place for different cultures, hosting artists and visitors from around the world, earning significant recognition in the international community and enhancing Hungary's reputation. 'We fear that the government's decision announced today to ban Kneecap may not only damage the reputation of Sziget, but also negatively affect Hungary's standing worldwide.' Kneecap – comprised of Liam Og O hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain, and JJ O Dochartaigh – were formed in Belfast and released their first single in 2017. They hit the headlines recently after O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence relating to allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah. In May, the Metropolitan Police said the group were being investigated by counter-terrorism police after videos emerged allegedly showing them shouting 'Up Hamas, up Hezbollah' and 'Kill your local MP'. The group apologised to the families of murdered MPs and said they have 'never supported' Hamas or Hezbollah, which are banned in the UK. They were also investigated over their set at Glastonbury Festival in June, but last week Avon and Somerset Police confirmed they would be taking no further action.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Billie Eilish Says Irish Fans Make Her Feel ‘So Seen' in Dublin
Billie Eilish closed out the U.K. and European leg of her Hit Me Hard and Soft world tour with two sold-out shows at Dublin's 3Arena, where she took a moment to reflect on her heritage and express heartfelt gratitude to her Irish fans. Performing in Dublin on July 26, the 22-year-old pop star told the crowd that being in Ireland — a country tied to her family roots — made her feel an unexpected connection with the audience. 'Obviously, I am not from here, but it's really cool to come somewhere and everybody looks exactly like you,' Eilish told the crowd. 'You're all just as pasty as me. I love it.' More from Billboard Jonas Brothers Address Whether They Still Feel 'Guilt' Over 2013 Breakup: 'It Needed to Happen' Everclear Celebrate 'Sparkle and Fade' With Full Album Tour Down Under My Chemical Romance Debut Unreleased Song, 'War Beneath the Rain,' at L.A. Show She continued, 'It just makes me feel so seen. Also, a thousand of my relatives are in the crowd right now, I'm pretty sure.' Eilish concluded her heartfelt message by calling the crowd 'so beautiful' and thanking them for the warm reception: 'I love it here – it's so beautiful and you are all so beautiful and I see so many familiar faces out there.' The moment capped off a massive run of European shows for Eilish, who performed at several major arenas, including five nights at London's O2 Arena earlier in July. At her July 17 O2 show. During her recent U.K. shows, Eilish also teased a new creative venture with Avatar and Titanic director James Cameron. At her July 12 concert in Manchester, the singer acknowledged an increased number of cameras in the venue and hinted at a 3D project with Cameron, saying, 'I can't say much about it, but it's something really special.' Eilish released Hit Me Hard and Soft in May 2025 via Darkroom/Interscope Records. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart, earning 339,000 equivalent album units in its first week, and featured the singles 'Lunch,' 'Birds of a Feather,' and 'Chihiro.' It follows her 2021 sophomore album Happier Than Ever, which topped the Billboard 200 and earned multiple Grammy nominations. Eilish will kick off the North American leg of her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour in September, with dates scheduled through December. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
THE ORAL CIGARETTES on ‘OVERNIGHT,' the Opener of ‘Tougen Anki' Anime: ‘The Coolest Killer Tune We've Ever Released'
THE ORAL CIGARETTES has released a new song, 'OVERNIGHT,' the opening theme of the TV anime Tougen Anki: Legend of the Cursed Blood. The song's message, which resonates with both the anime's themes and the band itself, and its raging, breakneck beat make it a song that could only be created by THE ORAL CIGARETTES today, with its history in the scene. Behind the scenes, though, the band says the song has ties to 'Kyouran Hey Kids!!' which helped raise the band's profile. Billboard JAPAN talked to the four members, who are aggressively pursuing their musical ideals, about the making of the song and about their messages to overseas listeners. More from Billboard Jonas Brothers Address Whether They Still Feel 'Guilt' Over 2013 Breakup: 'It Needed to Happen' Billie Eilish Says Irish Fans Make Her Feel 'So Seen' in Dublin Everclear Celebrate 'Sparkle and Fade' With Full Album Tour Down Under On July 11, you released your new song, 'OVERNIGHT,' the opening theme to the anime . Takuya Yamanaka (vocals and guitar): The protagonist of Tougen Anki: Legend of the Cursed Blood started out with a pure, powerful desire to become a Momotaro (a folk hero who fought ogres called 'Oni'), but then he discovered that he was actually part Oni. Although he was unable to achieve his dream of becoming a Momotaro, he looked even deeper, at his own desire to follow his vision of justice, despite what others might say, and he decided to do that as an Oni. What's important isn't just pursuing your dreams, but how you take on those dreams and stay true to yourself. We wanted the song to really convey that message. Were there parts of the story that resonated with you, personally? Yamanaka: Yes. As the frontman of a band, when you transition over from being an indie to a major label band, you think a lot about your ideals and how to deal with them. When I first started getting interested in bands and music, my ideals were really pure, but that desire to go a certain way was so strong that I ended up losing sight of my own innate qualities. I was just thinking about how I wanted to be seen by other people. Over time, those ideals gradually became less pure. So I've experienced that first-hand, and it's something I still struggle with a bit. With this song, it almost felt like I was directing the lyrics at myself, especially in the last chorus. I'm sure it will remind a lot of fans of 'Kyouran Hey Kids!!' the theme song to Was 'Kyouran Hey Kids!!' something you thought about when you were creating 'OVERNIGHT'? Yamanaka: Everyone, from every side, was looking forward to us making something that would go above and beyond 'Kyouran Hey Kids!!' And, of course, we wanted to move forward, too. We created a sound image that would have been impossible for us back when we made 'Kyouran Hey Kids!!' We used other things, too, that we've learned over the past decade, such as music theory. We were like 'Let's let them have it, right from the start.' And just as you'd intended, the song opens up with a bass line that's just amazing. Akira Akirakani (bass and chorus): I played using an effect pedal called a filter, and in our sound production, we gradually opened up that filter. Takuya said 'the bass at the start is incredibly important,' and I wanted to really focus on the sound production, so we made some adjustments after the mixing, too. Yamanaka: The whole process was a lot of fun. First, I made the demo, and then I told Shige (Suzuki), 'I want to put in a lead guitar like this. Want to work on it together?' I remember having a lot of fun, like 'I want to put in a scratch part here. What about cut-and-pasting it?' Shigenobu Suzuki (guitar): I'm good at making guitar lines with a harsh edge, and I tried out a few different tones for this song. Yuki (Tsujimura) helped with the arrangement. If it had just been me on my own, it probably wouldn't have occurred to me to go with that guitar tone, which was noisy but where you could also clearly hear the guitar phrases. Up to now, I've tended to just go with one effect pedal, like 'Using this one gives it a dark feel,' but for this song I tried out a lot of different effects. Akira: Like you said, part of the bass line was a self-homage to 'Kyouran Hey Kids!!' The timing was perfect—this killer tune, the coolest we've ever made, that's also part of a tie-up. It was like 'boom!' So I wanted to use every trick and technique at my disposal. How has your approach changed between 10 years ago and now? Akira: I totally trust the other members of the band now. The four of us got together and wrote 'Kyouran Hey Kids!!' in the studio, but 'OVERNIGHT' was mainly written in this whirlwind of activity by Takuya and Shige. Back then, if someone had said 'this guitar phrase is super important,' I probably would have said 'hold on, I'll come up with an even cooler phrase!' Now, it's different. I've shifted to thinking about how I can play that phrase in the best way possible. Masaya Nakanishi (drums): For the drums, too, when the demo was finished the song was already somewhat polished, so the direction of the drums was already clear. I took care not to mess up the atmosphere they'd created. For a drummer, the cooler a song is, the more you want to try different things. But I thought about how we'd be positioning the song in the future, and I realized that I wanted listeners to be able to focus on the singing. That's why I figured it would be best not to go overboard with the drums. I held back a bit and played using a really natural approach. But I also sprinkled in some complicated things here and there, which I hope other drummers will notice. I look forward to seeing how listeners react. You have a lot of overseas fans, too. In your day-to-day activities, are there many times when you encounter that side of your fanbase? Yamanaka: So often. Our YouTube videos are full of comments from overseas listeners. We haven't had many chances to play overseas, but I want our foreign fans to realize that we're always reading their comments and we're always thinking about them. I think a lot of people discovered us through 'Kyouran Hey Kids!!' and I've seen it get covered a lot. It makes me so happy that even though the song has this distinctively Japanese melody and Japanese lyrics, it resonates with people from different cultures and they even go out and cover it. I think a lot of our overseas fans are anime fans, so if they hear 'OVERNIGHT' and think, 'That's the opening to Tougen Anki: Legend of the Cursed Blood, that's so cool!' then we'll be happy, too. We'll do all we can to go play overseas, too! Akira: Yeah, I want to play a show in maybe the US. Yamanaka: My older brother's lived in the US for a long time, and one day he was at the bar and the person next to him was like, 'You're Japanese? Do you know this artist?' And it turned out he was asking about THE ORAL CIGARETTES. My brother said he bragged, 'Yeah, I'm this guy's older brother' (laughs). Suzuki: I'm sure the guy who asked was surprised, too (laughs). We get a lot of YouTube comments in Spanish, so I want to play in Latin America, too. I hear there are a lot of anime festivals in Latin America, and I know someone who has gone and played there, so I've heard that there are countries where people don't just love Japanese music and anime, but the country itself. Everybody's experiencing our own culture, so one day I'd like for us to actually go over there. Nakanishi: I've learned about how wonderful different countries are since I've started traveling overseas. When I see these comments from overseas listeners, I feel very thankful. I'm like 'Oh, we got a comment from someone in that country' or 'Wow, they're so far away, but they're thinking about what we're doing.' So of course I'd like to go play in the countries where our fans live, but I also think it would be meaningful to go to countries that aren't that well known to share our music and our culture. —This interview by Chinami Hachisuka first appeared on Billboard Japan Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Billie Eilish's Comments About It Being 'Really Cool' To Be Surrounded By People Who Look 'Exactly Like' Her In Ireland Were Taken Completely Out Of Context
On Monday, Billie Eilish was causing a stir on social media after an eyebrow-raising clip from one of her recent Dublin concerts emerged online. For reference, the 23-year-old star is currently in the midst of her Hit Me Hard and Soft world tour, which kicked off back in September. And on Saturday, the show arrived in Ireland for two dates at Dublin's 3Arena venue — and American-born Billie was excited to be in the Emerald Isle due to her Irish ancestry. However, a comment that the singer made at one of her weekend shows sparked backlash when it was later shared to X. Related: In the clip, Billie tells the cheering crowd: 'As you know, I'm Irish, so it's cool to be here.' 'Obviously I'm not from here, duh,' she went on. 'But it's really cool to come somewhere and everybody looks exactly like you.' TikTok @@ / Via Related: The video has already been seen more than 33 million times since it was posted just one day ago, with tens of thousands of people quick to share their reactions in the replies and quote tweets. Needless to say, there were a few jokes that instantly went viral, with one quote-tweet quipping: 'y'all got white people dressed like Fat Joe in ireland?' However, others had a more concerning interpretation of Billie's comments, and one tweet that has been liked more than 172,000 times at the time of writing reads: 'Everyone here is white like me.' Another popular tweet echoed: 'crazy fucking statement to make as a fucking white woman.' And one more claimed: 'Billie really said 'wow that's a lot of white people, i like it here!'' Related: But it turns out that this hugely viral clip was actually taken completely out of context, with the video cutting just before Billie drops the punchline to what was obviously a self-deprecating joke related to stereotypes around Irish people. In the full video, Billie is poking fun at how pale she is, with her entire quote actually being: 'It's really cool to come somewhere and everybody looks exactly like you... You're all just as pasty as me!' Fans of Billie will know that she often jokes about how pale she is — something that she even referenced during her 2021 Saturday Night Live monologue, where she quipped: "I know I look like I've been locked in a basement for 17 years.' Related: And during her appearance on Hot Ones, she confessed: 'I'm so pale that you can literally see every vein in my body when I get hot.' Replying to the full video, one person admitted: 'I do agree that the sentence on its own sounds dumb as hell, but context matters.' You can watch the uncut clip below — let me know your thoughts in the comments! TikTok @ / Via More on this 'I Wasn't Even There': Billie Eilish Has Spoken Out After People Trashed Her "Met Gala Outfit" OnlineStephanie Soteriou · May 15, 2025 Billie Eilish's Brother, Finneas, Is Being Praised For His Response To A "Guess Who Killed Billie" AI TikTokStephanie Soteriou · Feb. 21, 2025 Meghan Markle Tracked Down Billie Eilish To Surprise A 15-Year-Old Fan Who Lost Everything In The California WildfiresStephanie Soteriou · Feb. 5, 2025 This Is How Billie Eilish's Brother, Finneas, Reacted To Billie Not Winning Any Of The Seven Grammys That She Was Nominated For Last NightStephanie Soteriou · Feb. 3, 2025 Also in Celebrity: Also in Celebrity: Also in Celebrity: Solve the daily Crossword
