Close Ad

Billie Eilish Revealed a Secret, 'Really Weird' Condition - And How It Makes Her Stronger
Billie Eilish against a green, red and purple background
Pop Culture

Billie Eilish Revealed a Secret, 'Really Weird' Condition - And How It Makes Her Stronger

In an interview with David Letterman, Billie Eilish opens up about her experience living with Tourette Syndrome and shares words of wisdom that can be applied to anyone's life.

Billie Eilish has never been one to shy away from deep topics. In fact, it's one of the things her fans love about her. The 20-year-old singer is known for baring her heart in songs such as everything i wanted and idontwannabeyouanymore, the former being about suicidal ideation and the latter about self-hatred.

Recently, Eilish opened up about another difficult topic on David Letterman'sMy Next Guest Needs No Introduction, as she talked with him about her experience living with Tourette Syndrome.


Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder that usually develops in childhood. The condition involves unwanted, repetitive and uncontrollable actions, often referred to as "tics." There are two types of tics: motor tics and vocal tics.

Examples of motor tics are blinking or shrugging, while examples of vocal tics are clearing one's throat or blurting out words. Unfortunately, there is no cure for Tourette Syndrome, but there are treatments to help manage the condition.

Why Did Billie Eilish Open Up about Tourette Syndrome?

During the interview, Eilish started ticcing. At first, Letterman asks her, "What's going on, is it a fly?" Eilish casually tells him the lights triggered her tics. "If you film me for long enough," she says, "you're gonna see lots of tics."

Letterman leans into the topic with polite curiosity, asking if the singer is open to talking about her condition. Eilish responds in the affirmative.

RELATED: Robert Pattinson Refused to Do One Dangerous Thing for The Batman, Calling It ‘Part of the Problem’

"It's really weird," she says, playing with the rings on her fingers. "I haven't talked about it at all. The most common way that people react is they laugh, because they think I'm, like, trying to be funny."

She laughs. "I'm always left incredibly offended by that."

It's completely understandable why the Happier Than Ever singer would be offended by that. Living with a condition like Tourette Syndrome is difficult enough, but having to worry about how others might react to the tics adds a whole extra layer of emotional pain and stress.

RELATED: Johnny Depp Vs. Amber Heard: Why the Worst Thing about Hollywood’s Biggest Battle Might Be… Us?

However, Eilish is helping reduce the stigma surrounding Tourette's by speaking candidly about her experience. According to the American Psychiatric Association, research shows that knowing someone with a condition "is one of the best ways to reduce stigma," adding, "Individuals speaking out and sharing their stories can have a positive impact."

For Billie Eilish fans that might also live with Tourette's, they may feel empowered -- or at least less alone -- knowing that their favorite artist understands them.

How Billie Eilish "Made Friends" with Tourette Syndrome

Billie eilish 1024x567

In concluding this portion of the interview, Letterman expresses his thanks to her for educating him on Tourette's. She replies, "I actually really love answering questions about [Tourette's] because it's very, very interesting. And I am incredibly confused by it, and I don't get it.

"These are things you would never notice if you're just having a conversation with me, but for me, they're very exhausting. It's not like I like it, but it's part of me. I have made friends with it. And so now, I'm pretty confident in it."

RELATED: From Mean Girl to Dropout: How Amanda Seyfried Beat a Poisonous Hollywood Stereotype

"I have made friends with it" might be the most profound line of this scene. This is something that can be applied to everyone's life. Not everyone has Tourette's, but everyone has demons they wrestle with daily.

Maybe they suffer from depression, bad self-image, are grieving someone or something, are under immense work stress or living with crippling anxiety. Sometimes, these demons won't go away. And the harder one fights them, the harder they fight back, and the more the person suffers.

But Eilish has made friends with her demons. She doesn't like having the condition, but she acknowledges it's a part of her. She's learned to live with it instead of fighting against it.

Billie Eilish is relatable -- she shows her fans that she struggles, too, whether it be mental health or tics. By speaking out on living with Tourette Syndrome, the singer continues to be a force for good and an inspiration to many.

KEEP READING:

How Frank Ocean Outsmarted His Record Label And What That Teaches Us About Self-Belief

Hot Stories

Leonardo DiCaprio Told Kate Winslet To “Let The Fat Girl Thing Go”
Leo Dicaprio Told Kate Winslet To “Let The Fat Girl Thing Go” …

Forced to feel ashamed for her weight and appearance, Kate Winslet struggled with her body image for years. The media loved to tease her for being “the fat girl,” but there was ONE PERSON who saw the real her. What did Leo see in Kate? And what important message does Kate have for young women everywhere?


Keep ReadingShow less
Videos
Kate winslet and leo
SAINT-TROPEZ, FRANCE - JULY 26: Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio are seen on stage during the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation 4th Annual Saint-Tropez Gala at Domaine Bertaud Belieu on July 26, 2017 in Saint-Tropez, France. (Photo by Anthony Ghnassia/Getty Images for LDC Foundation)

From declarations of love to laughter on the red carpet, we've rounded up our favorite moments between the legendary Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet that have kept our hearts aflutter for over two decades.

The now 50-year-old Leo and 49-year-old Kate have had their share of memorable moments. And they're still culturally relevant. The 2023 film Anyone But You had Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell recreate the Jack and Rose "leaning over the deck of the Titanic" scene we'll never forget.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pop Culture
single mom struggling to pay off student loans reacts after a bank wipes out all her debt
ABC News

We've all heard it: if you work hard and go to school, you will get a good-paying job and be able to afford decent things in life. In reality, many people invest in continuing education and are then stuck paying off student loans for a large chunk of their lives.

That’s what happened to Jasmin Ford, a nurse in Chicago. She was dealing with a large debt and struggling to pay it off by working two jobs. Then, something incredible happened to her – the debt vanished. Here's how it all went down.

Keep ReadingShow less
Uplifting News