Billie EilishΒ spoke candidly about her perception of other women in a new interview withΒ Variety.
The Grammy-winning singer, who has long been subject to intense scrutiny over her π eπ₯uality, got real about feeling βphysically attracted toβ and βintimidated byβ women, despite personally struggling to relate to the idea of femininity.
βIβve never really felt like I could relate to girls very well,β she told the outlet. βI love them so much. I love them as people. Iβm attracted to them as people. Iβm attracted to them for real.β
She continued, βI have deep connections with women in my life, the friends in my life, the family in my life. Iβm physically attracted to them. But Iβm also so intimidated by them and their beauty and their presence.β
ThemΒ notes that Eilish has previously been accused of βqueerbaitingββa term that refers to creators hinting at a fictional characterβs π eπ₯uality in order to appeal to LGBTQ+ audiences without ever meaningfully or explicitly discussing their queerness.
Elsewhere in the interview, Eilish opened up about her complicated relationship with her body, which has also faced years of undue public speculation. The singerβs signature red-carpet styleβwhich often invokes baggy or oversize clothingβhas put an unwanted emphasis on what her body looks like, a problem that she has previously spoken about.
βI wasnβt trying to have peopleΒ notΒ π eπ₯ualize me,β she said. βBut I didnβt want people to have access to my body, even visually. I wasnβt strong enough and secure enough to show it. If I had shown it at that time, I would have been completely devastated if people had said anything.β
Eilish reflected on how her view of herself has affected her attitude toward being π eπ₯ualized by the public. βMaybe my not really caring about being π eπ₯ualized is because Iβve never felt desired or desirable,β she explained. βIβve never felt like a woman, to be honest with you. Iβve never felt desirable. Iβve never felt feminine. I have to convince myself that Iβm, like, a pretty girl. I identify as βshe/herβ and things like that, but Iβve never really felt like a girl.β
The singer slammed the unwelcome attention toward her natural body parts. βI have big boobs. Iβve had big boobs since I was nine years old, and thatβs just the way I am. Thatβs how I look,β she said. βYou wear something thatβs at all revealing, and everyoneβs like, βOh,Β butΒ you didnβt want people to π eπ₯ualize you?β You can suck my ass! Iβm literally a being that is π eπ₯ual sometimes. Fuck you!β
The double standards for men are very apparent. As she points out, βNobody ever says a thing about menβs bodies. If youβre muscular, cool. If youβre not, cool. If youβre rail thin, cool. If you have a dad bod, cool. If youβre pudgy, love it! Everybodyβs happy with it. You know why? Because girls are nice. They donβt give a fuck because we see people for who they are!β