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Singer Billie Eilish at an event of the magazine »Variety« on Saturday in Los Angeles

Photograph:

Mario Anzuoni / REUTERS

Fans have long speculated about the sexual orientation of American singer Billie Eilish, but now she has ended this with an unequivocal answer. "I like boys and I like girls," the 21-year-old wrote on Instagram. "Leave me alone. Seriously, who cares."

The reason for the post was the public discussion about a cover story of the magazine »Variety« in which Eilish mentions her love for women. » I love you so much. I love them as people. I'm drawn to them as a human being," Eilish said. I'm really drawn to them." A small subordinate clause, then she continues. The author of the article doesn't ask any further questions and instead muses on how casually Eilish throws in a piece of information that was associated with enormous risks for many famous people of previous generations.

Apparently, it was precisely because of this casualness that some reporters felt called upon to bring Eilish up again at the next opportunity. That's what happened on Saturday at a "Variety" event in Los Angeles. There, she was asked on the red carpet if she had planned to come out in the interview. "No," Eilish said. "I kind of thought, 'Wasn't that obvious?'"

Little did she know that people didn't know yet, the singer said. "I'm like, 'Why can't we just exist?' I've been doing this for a while and I just haven't talked about it. Oops!"

In the past, Eilish had also confirmed relationships with men, in May her spokesperson team had announced the separation from boyfriend Jesse Rutherford.

Eilish also spoke in the aforementioned edition of »Variety« about the public pressure she has felt since her first hit at the age of 13, about insecurity about her own appearance and that she has therefore hidden in baggy clothes for a long time.

She also suffered from the assumption that other women would not like her. "I've never felt like I was good at building relationships with other girls," Eilish said. "I'm physically attracted to them, but their beauty and presence also intimidate me."

zob/dpa