Billie Eilish: Living with Tourette's

Living with Tourette's syndrome C1 - 20th June 2022

Billie Eilish disclosed her struggle with Tourette's syndrome, during an interview, where she stated that living with the condition was "very exhausting".

Experiencing a tic on-camera, while being interviewed on David Letterman's 'My Next Guest' show on Netflix, the singer said "if you film me for long enough, you're going to see lots of tics".

According to Tourette's Action, some 300,000 children and adults in the UK are living with TS, whilst upwards of one percent of the global population do. People affected by the condition experience involuntary sounds and movements, known as tics, which start in childhood and gradually decrease in severity throughout adulthood - completely ceasing for some people.

Billie revealed, in the interview, that although the tics don't bother her while performing and that certain tics have disappeared, others happen quite frequently.

The artist stated that, "these are things you would never notice if you're just having a conversation with me, but for me, they're very exhausting." She mentioned that she "really loves" informing people about her experience living with the condition, even though she's "incredibly confused by it." She highlighted that people sometimes have a negative reaction to her tics, adding, "the most common way that people react is they laugh because they think I'm trying to be funny. I'm always left incredibly offended by that."

Terrina Bibb, who also lives with Tourette’s syndrome, relates to Eilish's experiences with people, and wishes they'd treat her and others living with the condition, normally. Echoing the sentiments of the musician, Terrina doesn't "mind educating people on it, but I just don't think people should be rude". She believes that for someone of Billie Eilish's status sharing their experience living with TS is a big deal. "Hopefully, it'll make it a bit more normalised."