Billie Eilish sat down for another Vanity Fair interview, her eighth with the publication since she was 15 years old in 2017.
“This is the first year in my life that I keep forgetting how old I am,” Billie says in the video after looking back at her career. The singer’s Hit Me Hard and Soft was the second most-streamed album on Spotify this year, while the LP’s “Birds of a Feather” was the third most streamed track. The song, released in July, has received 2025 Grammy nominations for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance.
“I’ve done nothing but make friends all year, and gotten so close with people that I wasn’t with before, and became friends with people I used to be friends with again,” she says. “It’s just been a year filled with friendship,” Eilish smiles, before adding: “And yes, I’ve had a lot of good sex. So you’re welcome, Billie.”
During an interview with Rolling Stone published in April, Eilish discussed the sexual nature of her track “Lunch,” and her 2023 interview with Variety last fall, when she mentioned she was attracted to women.
“That song was actually part of what helped me become who I am, to be real,” Eilish said at the time. “I wrote some of it before even doing anything with a girl, and then wrote the rest after.” She added, “I was never planning on talking about my sexuality ever, in a million years. It’s really frustrating to me that it came up.”
A month after the Variety interview, Eilish attended the publication’s Hitmakers event and while on the red carpet, a reporter asked her if intentionally came out in the story. “No, I didn’t,” Eilish replied. “But I kind of thought, ‘Wasn’t it obvious?’” Later, the singer posted about the exchange on Instagram, writing in a caption: “Thanks Variety for my award and for also outing me on a red carpet at 11 a.m. instead of talking about anything else that matters. I like boys and girls leave me alone about it please literally who cares.”
When speaking to Rolling Stone, admitted she overreacted with the Instagram post, while also stating, “The whole world suddenly decided who I was, and I didn’t get to say anything or control any of it. Nobody should be pressured into being one thing or the other.” She continued, “It takes a while to find yourself, and I think it’s really unfair, the way that the internet bullies you into talking about who you are and what you are.”
Elsewhere in her Vanity Fair video, Eilish watches an old clip of herself saying she no longer wanted to let people take away her “sparkle.” Looking back at the moment, Eilish reflects: “I really trust myself, and I think, like, especially that 2022 girl, I don’t think I trusted her. So I really trust myself now, and I’m not gonna let any of that happen again.”
