Billie Eilish told her Dublin audience that she felt “so seen” being surrounded by people who looked “just as pasty” as her, a comment that quickly drew mixed reactions online.
During her Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour at 3Arena, the 23-year-old artist addressed the crowd, referencing her Irish ancestry and her connection to the audience.
“As you guys know, I'm Irish, so it's cool to be here,” she said. “Obviously, I am not from here, but it's really cool to come somewhere and, like, everybody looks exactly like you, and you're all just as pasty as me, I love it.”
She continued, “Seriously though, it’s so amazing. It just makes me feel so seen … Also, like, a thousand of my relatives are in the crowd right now, I’m pretty sure. Thank you for coming.”
Eilish has previously spoken about her Irish and Scottish roots, noting in a Today FM interview that she grew up knowing her ancestry but only felt a meaningful connection after visiting Ireland.
Online, reactions varied after the clip went viral on X with many users taking the clip out of context and accusing Eilish of promoting white nationalism.
One user said, “Billie really said ‘wow that's a lot of white people, I like it here!’” while others viewed her words as an innocent expression of belonging. Some questioned her phrasing, though many fans defended the sentiment.
The moment added to Eilish’s growing list of personal remarks that strike a chord, and sometimes controversy with global audiences.
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