What did Billie Eilish say? Singer criticised for anti-Asian racist slur while lip-syncing Tyler the Creator song

Singer-songwriter Billie Eilish has published an apology on her social media after a TikTok video emerged of her singing a racist slur.

The ‘Bury a Friend’ singer was seen in the video lip-syncing along to a Tyler the Creator song, which includes lyrics associated with being anti-Asian.

The clip is part of an edited compilation, which also shows Eilish apparently putting on an accent which some criticised as mocking Asian accents.

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So, what did the 19-year-old say in response to the videos? This is what you need to know.

What did Billie Eilish say about the videos?

On 22 June, Eilish responded to claims she had made anti-Asian comments and humiliated asian accents.

Her comments came after fans called on her to address her behaviour and make clear why she participated in the video.

Eilish wrote on her Instagram story: “I love you guys, and many of you have been asking me to address this. And this is something that I WANT to address because I’m being labelled something that I am not.

“There’s a video edit going around of me when I was 13 or 14 where I mouthed a word from a song that at the time I didn’t know was a derogatory term used against members of the Asian community,” Eilish continued. “I am appalled and embarrassed and want to barf that I ever mouthed along to that word.

“This song was the only time I’d ever heard that word as it was never used around me by anyone in my family. Regardless of my ignorance and age at the time, nothing excuses the fact is that it was hurtful. And for that I am sorry,” she added.

She went on to address the second clip, in which she is seen altering her voice and some suggested it was also offensive to the Asian community.

“The other video in that edited clip is me speaking in a silly gibberish made up voice,” she wrote. “Something I started doing as a kid and have done my whole life when talking to my pets, friends and family,” she explained.

“It is absolute gibberish and just me goofing around, and is in NO way an imitation of anyone or any language, accent or culture in the SLIGHTEST.”

She continued: “Anyone who knows me has seen me goofing around with voices my whole life. Regardless of how it was interpreted I did not mean for any of my actions to have caused hurt to others and it absolutely breaks my heart that it is being labelled now in a way that might cause pain to people hearing it.”

Following her plea to fans that she did not intend to be racist or cause offence, she told her 87.1million followers that she would use her platform “to fight for inclusion, kindness, tolerance, equity and equality”, and urged her followers to “continue having conversations, listening and learning”.

Is this the first time she has been caught up in controversy?

While the ‘Bad Guy’ singer is not thought to have ever been racist or derogatory since she participated in the video some six years ago, her reported boyfriend also made headlines at the weekend.

LA-based actor and writer, Matthew Tyler Vorce was forced to apologise when alleged posts from his Twitter and Facebook emerged resurfaced showing racist, homophobic and fat-shaming language.

The historic posts made derogatory comments about other stars - including Adele and Kim Kardashian.

The 29-year-old, who has been seen cuddling up to Billie on a trip to Disneyland, issued the apology.

Addressing his behavior on his Instagram story, he wrote: “I want to apologize for the things that I wrote on social media in the past.

“The language I used was hurtful and irresponsible and I understand how offensive those words are.

“Whether it was a lyric, a quote or just me being dumb, it does not matter.”

He added: “I am ashamed and deeply sorry that I used them in any context. It is not how I was raised and it is not what I stand for. I shouldn't have used this language in the first place and I won't use it again. I am so sorry for the hurt I have caused.

“I take full responsibility and continue to hold myself accountable for my actions.”