The Reaction To Billie Eilish's Tourette's Syndrome Tics That Leaves Her 'Incredibly Offended'
Billie Eilish openly admitted she felt "trapped" by her place in Hollywood, even despite her success. In an interview with GQ, the eccentric pop star argued, "Sometimes I dress like a boy. Sometimes I dress like a swaggy girl. And sometimes I feel trapped by this persona that I have created, because sometimes I think people view me not as a woman." Eilish made headlines when she ditched her baggy look for a tight corset and bombshell blonde hair on the cover of British Vogue. At the time, the "Happier Than Ever" hit-maker reasoned it shouldn't matter, as long as she stayed true to herself.
Unlike many other pop stars who maintain a strict sense of image control in the public eye, Eilish has opened up many times about the scrutiny to which she's been subjected and the pressure to always live up to other people's lofty expectations. As the lovable singer told The Guardian, "If you're always standing a certain way, walking in a certain way, and always have your hair just so ... It's such a loss to always try to always look good. It's such a loss of joy and freedom in your body." Eilish, of course, is under considerably more pressure than many of her peers due to her Tourette's Syndrome.
In fact, the "Therefore I Am" hit-maker is tired of being judged for something most people don't even comprehend on a base level.
Billie Eilish wishes people had a deeper understanding of her condition
Billie Eilish's Tourette Syndrome has been the subject of intense fan discussion ever since the enigmatic pop star first opened up about it. According to People, during an interview on David Letterman's talk show, "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction," Eilish clarified she's happy to discuss what it's like living with the condition, since she barely understands it herself and recognizes it's a fascinating topic.
Eilish's main tics are wiggling her ears, raising her eyebrows, clicking her jaw, and flexing her arm muscles. "These are things you would never notice if you're just having a conversation with me, but for me, they're very exhausting," Eilish explained. Although she's been exhibiting small, physical tics since she was a kid, the pop star acknowledged they don't present as often when she's focused on the task at hand, such as singing. Sadly, because little is known about the syndrome, people often react badly to her.
Eilish revealed, "The most common way that people react is they laugh because they think I'm trying to be funny. They think I'm [ticcing] as a funny move. And so they go, 'Ha.' And I'm always left incredibly offended by that. Or they go 'What?' And then I go, 'I have Tourette's.'" As Billboard notes, Eilish went public with her diagnosis in a 2018 Instagram Story, after a compilation of her various tics was shared online. At the time, she made it clear Tourette's doesn't define her.