Billie Eilish promotes her new album to Israelis, and draws social media ire

Billie Eilish performs onstage at the iHeartRadio ALTer EGO concert, Jan. 28, 2021. Courtesy of Getty

By Gabe Friedman August 2, 2021

(JTA) — Pop star Billie Eilish provoked a wave of angry criticism on social media after posting a short video online promoting her new album to Israeli fans.

“Hi Israel, this is Billie Eilish, and I’m so excited that my new album, ‘Happier Than Ever,’ is out now,” she says in a clip posted to her Tik Tok, the blog Israellycool reported Sunday.

The video was one of several that Eilish posted to fans in different countries.

Pro-Palestinian social media users appeared to criticize Eilish for recognizing Israel as a state.

@billieeilish its “occupied palestinian land” not israel

— ??Ahmed Nour?? (@yofavgoalkeeper) July 31, 2021

Others used the opportunity to criticize Israeli policy toward the Palestinians.

“hi israel im billie eilish and i’m blah blah blah” well hi tf billie eilish i’m a palestinian that doesn’t have the right to see my country again and if i go there i’d live in fear of being bombed or killed. think before you speak @billieeilish #billie #Palestine

— dania ?? (@dania_alzain) July 31, 2021

Me, a long time Billie Eilish fan and supporter of Palestinian liberation, seeing her make a video saying “Hi Israel!” and proceeding to promote her new album to her Israeli audience pic.twitter.com/IchQXAK4GT

— James Ray ☭ (@MakeItRayn_) July 31, 2021

“Happier Than Ever,” the 19-year-old’s second album, was one of the most anticipated pop releases of the year.

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