Seven-time Grammy winning American singer Billie Eilish has received a wave of backlash from the Muslims around the world for her promotional TikTok video for the Israeli market.
The 19-year-old, who is set to claim the top position on this week’s Official Singles Chart with Happier Than Ever, has been called out by disappointed fans and music lovers for starting a video with "hi Israel." This video was made to promote her new album directly to the people in Israel.
The 20-second clip hears her say, “Hi Israel, I’m so excited that my new album, Happier Than Ever, is out now.”
Now, many on Twitter and Instagram are calling her a ‘zionist’ for advertising to Israel at a time when even supermodels like Bella and Gigi Hadid, as well as Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters are calling out Israeli settlers in Palestine for attacks in Gaza, Al-Aqsa complex, as well as forced expulsions of the residents of Shaykh Jarah.
Nevertheless, several are un-following Billie on social media and dubbing her video ‘insensitive’. “This made my day really sad,” commented a user on Eye on Palestine Insta account’s post about the singer. “You know when I was a kid, I thought you were the coolest,” added another. “This means she’s okay with Israel apartheid,” one more chimed in.
Recently, more than a 1,000 Israeli settlers forced their way into Al-Aqsa Mosque, according to a Palestinian agency. In a statement, the Islamic Endowment Department in Jerusalem said that 1,210 settlers broke into the complex through its Israeli-controlled Al-Mughrabi Gate, southwest of the mosque, and performed their rituals inside.
According to eyewitnesses, these settler groups attempted to storm the complex through the Bab Huta Gate and King Faisal Gate but were confronted by Palestinian worshippers. They launched tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets at worshippers, as per Palestinian media, while Israeli police forcefully evacuated Muslim worshippers to clear the way for the Jewish visitors.
Her newly-released second album is at Number 12 on today's Official Chart: First Look, and if it stays on course will become Billie Eilish’s 10th Top 20 hit in the UK, and fifth Top 40 this year alone. See Billie Eilish's full Official Chart history here.
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