
He responded with “FINALLY!” on Instagram (using @corduroygraham) to two comments made by a fan, one of which is about the alleged 2011-2017 Facebook posts. It’s unknown which of the two comments he was responding to. His friends have also been defending him on Instagram.
To complicate matters, Matthew Vorce is 10 years Billie Eilish’s senior and their relationship hasn’t been confirmed. If Eilish is dating Vorce, however, many consider Eilish’s recent music video “Lost Cause” and subsequent Instagram post (both published during Pride Month) to be “queerbaiting.”
What is “queerbaiting”?
Wikipedia defines queerbaiting as “a marketing technique for fiction and entertainment in which creators hint at, but then do not actually depict, same-sex romance or other LGBTQ+ representation.” Urban Dictionary adds a second definition: “When straight men or women pretend to be gay and flirt with people of the same sex as a joke.”
In 2021, Billie Eilish’s Lost Cause music video came into the discussion after multiple fans accused her of queerbaiting. The video depicts a group of women dancing, twerking, and cuddling. A closet, which some believe to be an innuendo for coming out, is also a prominent location in the video.
– Wikipedia
Fans claim that Billie Eilish is “queerbaiting” after she posted follow-up photos of the “Lost Cause” music video with the caption “i love girls.”
View this post on Instagram
Many fans believed this was Billie Eilish’s way of coming out and grew frustrated when her supposed relationship with Vorce was revealed. Comments under the Instagram post range from “Why can’t girls just love their girl friends?” to “She’s literally queer baiting and not one soul sees it.” to “You guys are really dramatic🤡.”
Rich Ferraro, chief communications officer at GLAAD, told Yahoo Life that “queerbaiting” or “gaybaiting” is often “from brands or talent who are trying to market products or projects to the community and have a goal not to create change, but to profit from LGBTQ dollars.”
Some on Twitter are voicing their own opinions on Billie Eilish’s long-speculated sexuality.
she does not owe anyone an explanation about her sexuality ! #youlikegirls
— kalyra 46 (@FEELS0SCATTERED) June 14, 2021
Others are drawing conclusions from Eilish’s association with Vorce.
she’s dating a homophobe so i don’t think she’s queer sis but even if she was bisexual she’s still profiting off sexualising lesbians😐
— elyse (@Hewson_Elyse) June 14, 2021
Still others are pointing out that Eilish has previously denied being bisexual or gay.
since y’all love to forget #youlikegirls pic.twitter.com/Txvz3tplkZ
— 🤽🏿♀️ (@taelml) June 14, 2021
Billie Eilish’s Response
Billie Eilish has not officially responded to the accusations, but has reportedly liked a post “calling out her fandom and claiming the alleged posts were made up.”
so she can like some post but not speak up…
— lol (@lol08715328) June 14, 2021
#youlikegirls Twitter Space
In a confusing and disorganized Twitter Space, speakers took turns explaining their thoughts on Billie Eilish’s recent posts, actions, and relationships.
Although topics were scattered, most of the discussion revolved around Billie Eilish’s love life. Many people expressed the belief that Billie Eilish dating a racist or a homophobe is proof of complacency.
Ima just say that by default if you’re dating someone racist you’re complacent to racism. The same goes for homophobia #youlikegirls pic.twitter.com/RNmT4ACMRd
— HONGJOONGS 1 & ONLY WIFE( YEOSANG & HOSHI DAY MF) (@lilbabewonders) June 14, 2021
#youlikegirls billie babe im trying but these points are way to strong pic.twitter.com/4sHKuQylNJ
— melody noelle (@melodyynoelle) June 14, 2021
Others pointed out her supposed “blaccent” and “performative” remarks regarding racism.
why are we acting like she’s getting cancelled bc of the grooming? that’s not the issue. the issue is her racism and her performative activism. #YouLikeGirls
— liv ☽ (@aliviyahward) June 14, 2021
One user compiled clips of Eilish supposedly mocking Asians and using a “blaccent”.
billie mocking asians & her blaccent .. pic.twitter.com/gMKo9WCAFG
— ً (@nekuyns) June 13, 2021
Some users expressed frustration at the lack of Asian or women-love-women speakers, particularly when some speakers mistakenly equated women-love-women relationships to lesbian relationships. (Women-love-women relationships can involve lesbians, bisexuals, pansexuals, or nonbinary/trans women.)
So we don’t got a single asian speaker, the topic not coherent, and we don’t know if we got one queer wlw person on the board to speak on wlw queerbaiting #YouLikeGirls pic.twitter.com/8b75PD5CLZ
— Jay♡⁷ (@JayTheeBaby1) June 14, 2021
At one point, rumors about Eilish’s previous relationships came up. One was about a rumored 2018 fling between Eilish and Danielle Peskowitz Bregoli, known professionally as Bhad Bhabie.
Yah in 2018 I think people thought they had a little fling
— Asmara (@Asmara70767540) June 14, 2021
Eilish addressed the rumor in an Instagram story, in which she claimed Bregoli was her little sister.
ohh yeah “but billie didn’t address it” MY FUCKING ASS #youlikegirls pic.twitter.com/ht0m9wN5lq
— mel ! 46 (@didntwanastay) June 14, 2021
Some users accused others of victim blaming and pointed out that Eilish had a history of being sexually groomed.
HE IS 30. THE QUESTION ISN'T WHY DOES SHE LIKE OLDER MEN THE QUESTION IS WHY DO THEY LIKE HER AND AND WHY IS NO ONE DOING ANYTHING. HOLD HER ACCOUNTABLE FOR HER ACTIONS. DON'T BUT VICTIM BLAME. #youlikegirls
— essence is clearing (@ru1nedher) June 14, 2021
do y’all know how grooming works?? you don’t know that your being groomed. y’all seriously gotta check yourselves with the victim blaming #youlikegirls
— jojo (@begoneforhours) June 14, 2021
One user states that Eilish being a victim and responsible for her actions are not mutually exclusive.
"Billie is a victim" and "billie should be held accountable for her actions" are two statements that can and should coexist and idk why yall arent acknowledging that. #youlikegirls
— black women stan (@nvncbIs) June 14, 2021
The space was reportedly hijacked by unwelcome speakers and moved more than once.
Social Media History and Parasocial Relationships
Calling out problematic attitudes or actions based on previous posts or recordings is a staple of this generation’s parasocial relationships. As one user aptly pointed out, however, celebrities don’t know their audience personally and are not subjected to the same social pressure as friends or loved ones would.
i’m not defending billie or her man but we need to let go of this mentality that celebrities have to address every little thing. social media has gotten us used to being more personal with celebs but at the end of the day they’re celebs. if they wanna be dumb then #youlikegirls pic.twitter.com/tItldwKUuo
— jaa (@rambeaurogers) June 14, 2021
Another user eloquently states that “individuals are not responsible for your interpretation of their actions as gay/homoerotic.”
This all Imma say about Billie. #youlikegirls #Billietea pic.twitter.com/f3nCHcv8Ym
— Dani (@dxnidarko) June 14, 2021