Billie Eilish Responds to Taylor Swift Fans’ Accusations: ‘It’s About Unity’

Billie Eilish recently defended herself against criticism from Taylor Swift's fans who misinterpreted her comments in a recent conversation about the environmental impact of artists releasing multiple variations of their vinyl records.

“I wish people would stop putting words in my mouth and actually read the comments I made in that Billboard interview,” the 22-year-old artist wrote on her Instagram Stories on March 31.

“I didn't single out anyone, I was referring to sustainability issues that are present throughout the industry,” she added.

Billie acknowledged that many artists, including herself, release several versions of their records. “Which I openly stated in that same interview,” she responded. “The climate crisis is here now and we all play a part in the problem, so we must strive to improve.”

In a Billboard interview published on March 28, the singer of “Bad Guy” expressed her concerns about the environmental impact of releasing multiple versions of the same album in different packaging.

She commented, “It's hard to explain how wasteful this is. It’s going on right in front of us, and people are getting away with it. As someone who is constantly striving to be sustainable, involving my entire team in the process, it's very frustrating to see huge artists releasing 40 different vinyl packages just to encourage you to keep buying more and more.”

Though Billie's 2021 album, Happier Than Ever, had eight variations, she ensured these were sustainable using 100% recycled black vinyl and recycled waste, along with shrink wrap made from sugarcane.

She continued, “It's so wasteful and it infuriates me that the prioritization is still towards making money and number-based success, and it’s disheartening to see even your favourite artists taking part in this.”

She didn't mention any artists directly, but Taylor Swift's fans interpreted this as a veiled criticism of Taylor, who is known for releasing several physical versions of her albums.

One fan tweeted as a response to the interview, “The veiled criticism towards Taylor and artists who focus on charts and numbers is disappointing and negates her original argument. Billie herself has released multiple (sustainable) vinyl variations, so her argument about number-obsession is contradictory.”

Another fan opined: “If jealousy of Taylor's sales capabilities is the issue, just say it straight.”

In addition to Taylor Swift, other artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande and Beyoncé are known to have released numerous album variations.