The writer claims the 'Bad Guy' hitmaker was dressed like late rapper Big Pun with her baggy clothes at the 2020 Grammy Awards and points out several black artists who have inspired her style.
- Jan 28, 2020
AceShowbiz - Billie Eilish had a victorious night at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards with her win in major categories, but someone decided to highlight a negative aspect of the artist. Instead of congratulating her on her big win, journalist Ivie Ani blasted the 18-year-old singer/songwriter for allegedly appropriating black culture.
"Billie Eilish is beyond talented," Ivie tweeted on Sunday, January 26. But her praise turned out to be sarcastic as she continued, "Every time I see her I just can't help but think about how much the youth of white America use black culture for their aesthetic though."
Commenting on Billie's outfit at the Grammys, Ivie claimed she was dressed like late rapper/actor Big Pun, whose parents were of Puerto Rican descent. "She is dressed like Big Pun and has hood girl 90s acrylics tonight," she said of the young star.
She went on arguing, "Having a signature look is obviously critical to being a successful pop star so discussing her image and what it signifies (blackness) matters." Backing up her claim, she shared a link to an article that listed black artists who have inspired Billie's look, including Xscape, Aaliyah Dana Haughton, TLC, Missy Elliott and Rihanna.
A few people agreed with her, with one commenting, "We all know that pop culture wear black culture like a character that will be disgared (sic) when it no longer serve them." Another claimed, "1000%. love her, but the iced out chains, the rings, the dapper dan-esque clothing, even her tone of speaking. it's borderline culture vulture-y."
Many others, however, have hit back at Ivie and accused her of trying to "reach" with her criticism regarding Billie's outfits. "This is a reach," one simply responded to Ivie's opinion. Another similarly wrote, "Hmm sounds like the most unnecessary reach of 2020 thus far. Stop it."
"She's dressed like big pun? Lmfaoo stop it," another user commented. One other user replied to Ivie's tweets, "everyone is free to wear what they want, billie wears that type of clothing so people won't judge her for her body, clothing is clothing it shouldn't be organized by race."
"She wears baggy clothes for a reason she doesn't like showing off her body and doesn't want to be judged she wants her music to speak for itself also this chick is reaching Billie is minding her business," one person defended Billie. Another explained, "Billie literally stated she's wears baggy clothes so no one focuses on her figure sometimes people just over do it."
Billie herself has not responded to the cultural appropriation claim. She's probably still in celebratory mode after taking home four coveted titles, Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, Record of the Year and Song of the Year, at the 2020 Grammy Awards.
