Billie Eilish speaks up on the cost of fame: ‘Lost all my friends’
Billie Eilish revealed that by the time she was 20, she was only surrounded by her colleagues
Billie Eilish recently discussed the challenges that accompanied her rise to fame, in a candid conversation on the June 10 episode of the BBC’s Miss Me? podcast, hosted by singer Lily Allen and TV personality Miquita Oliver.
The 22-year-old artist reflected on the personal sacrifices she faced, particularly the impact on her social life. “I lost all of my friends when I got famous. I suddenly was famous and I couldn’t relate to anybody. It was tough. It was really hard,” Eilish revealed. She became a household name at just 14, following the success of her 2016 track “Ocean Eyes.” Throughout this period, her best friend Zoe was her sole constant companion.
However, as she reached her 20th birthday, Eilish found herself surrounded only by her professional team. “I remember looking around the room and it was only people that I employ. And all are 15 years or more older than me,” she shared.
The singer’s sense of isolation deepened when a trusted employee left their job and cut off contact with her. “It was the worst thing that happened to me. And that made me realize like, ‘Oh wait, this is a job.’ If they left me, they would never see me again,” Eilish noted.
Determined to change her situation, Eilish took proactive steps to reconnect with old friends and build new relationships. “Exactly a year ago, I reconnected with a bunch of old friends and now, I have so many friends. I have a crew now. I could literally cry about it. It’s been the greatest thing that’s happened to me,” she concluded, expressing gratitude for her renewed social circle.