Billie Eilish, the Grammy-winning pop sensation, has opened up about the challenges of maintaining privacy and personal safety in the face of overwhelming fame.
In a candid cover story interview with Rolling Stone, published on April 24th, the 22-year-old artist shed light on the darker side of celebrity life and how it has impacted her mental well-being.
Despite having a protective gray pit bull named Shark, who takes anti-anxiety medications like trazodone and Reconcile for dogs, Eilish admitted that even owning a highly defensive pet and having security guards is sometimes not enough to keep overzealous fans at bay.
“Just because he’s anxious doesn’t mean he couldn’t rip your face off if you come into my house,” she said, highlighting the potential risks she faces.
The “everything i wanted” artist expressed her frustration with the intrusive nature of fame, stating, “It’s not in the job description, for sure. I had really scary things happen in my personal life, and my safety was compromised a couple of times, and that’s a big part of my life.
That is something I just have to live with. But I don’t know, it really made me resentful of my life when you can’t even be in your own house.”
While Eilish refrained from delving into specific incidents, she acknowledged the toll it has taken on her mental health. However, she has found solace in an unexpected activity – embracing her sexuality.
“I basically talk about sex any time I possibly can,” the pop star revealed. “That’s literally my favorite topic. My experience as a woman has been that it’s seen in such a weird way.
People are so uncomfortable talking about it, and weirded out when women are very comfortable in their sexuality and communicative in it. I think it’s such a frowned-upon thing to talk about, and I think that should change.”
Eilish candidly added, “You asked me what I do to decompress? That s— can really, really save you sometimes, just saying. Can’t recommend it more, to be real.”
The wide-ranging interview took place in February, less than 48 hours after Eilish won the coveted Song of the Year award at the Grammys for her hit “What Was I Made For?”.
Following her triumph, the singer was hard at work shooting the cover for her highly anticipated third album, “Hit Me Hard and Soft”.
Departing from the traditional promotional strategy, Eilish revealed that she will not be releasing any singles from the upcoming project. “I don’t like singles from albums,” she explained. “Every single time an artist I love puts out a single without the context of the album, I’m just already prone to hating on it. I really don’t like when things are out of context.
This album is like a family: I don’t want one little kid to be in the middle of the room alone.”
Eilish’s candid revelations shed light on the often-overlooked challenges faced by celebrities, particularly regarding privacy and personal safety.
Her decision to embrace and openly discuss her sexuality challenges societal norms and serves as a refreshing departure from the stigma surrounding women’s sexual expression.
As she gears up for the release of her third album, Eilish’s commitment to artistic integrity and her willingness to tackle taboo topics continue to captivate her legion of fans, solidifying her status as a trailblazer in the music industry.
