This is Why the Media Needs Respect Our (Queer) Privacy
By Christine Kinori
Recently, Billie Eilish attended the Variety Hitmakers Brunch, where she won the Hitmakers Film Song of the Year award for “What Was I Made For.” Sadly, Billie’s accomplishment was not what the media chose to focus on.
A few hours after the event, the talented singer took to Instagram stating, “Thanks variety for my award and for also outing me on a red carpet at 11 am instead of talking about anything else that matters.” It turns out Billie was referring to a moment on the red carpet when Variety’s Tiana DeNicola interviewed her.
During the onscreen interview, DeNicola brought up Billie’s interview for the magazine in November for the Power of Women issue. In the magazine interview, Billie talked about her attraction to women, saying, “ I am attracted to [women] for real. I’m physically attracted to them. But I’m also so intimidated by their beauty and presence.”
Touching on this, DeNicola asked Billie if she meant to come out in the cover story. Of course, this didn’t sit right with the pop star, who smiled and answered, “No, I didn’t, but I kinda thought: Wasn’t it obvious?”
Billie then went on to clarify that she doesn’t believe in coming out and posed a question that most of us find ourselves asking. Why can’t we just exist? And rightfully so, why does it have to be a big deal if someone expresses their love for the same gender? Why can’t we just normalise it and keep the ball rolling?
According to Billie, she was shocked when she saw how the media treated her “coming out.” In response to DeNicola, she states, “I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I just didn’t talk about it. Whoops. But … I saw the article and was like, ‘Oh! I guess I came out today!’” She then adds, “Okay, cool. It’s exciting to me because I guess people didn’t know, but it’s cool that they know. I am for the girls.”
As much as queer visibility is important, the media needs to respect public figures privacy. It is clear that Billie doesn’t wish to have her business on everyone’s nose and didn’t realise people had no clue she is queer. She felt Variety outed her and is slighted.
On the other hand, Billie doesn’t understand why the media is making a big deal out of her sexual orientation. It is the 21st century, and by now, people shouldn’t need to be obsessed with whether a celebrity is coming out.
This is not the first time the media have salaciously outed a celebrity. They forget that sexual orientation is a personal issue, and some people are not there yet. It is not right for media to use someone’s sexuality as a clickbait. There are so many things they could have asked or talked about during that red carpet, but all DeNicola cared to ask was that intrusive question.
This constant need for the media and the fans to have a celebrity ‘label’ their sexual orientation needs to be stopped. We all remember when Kit Connor was forced to come out by his fans. Honestly speaking, it is none of our business, and celebrities don’t owe us explanations of their sexuality. The sooner we learn this, the better for everyone.
Let us allow these celebrities to tell their story in their own time, with their own words. Let them explore their sexual orientation and discover who they are without everyone in their business. It is not up to the media and the fans to decide when and how much these celebrities should let us into their lives.
About the Author:
Christine Siamanta Kinori grew up in a little village in Kenya known as Loitoktok near the border of Kenya and Tanzania. All she wanted to do when she grew up was to explore the world. Her curiosity led her to join Nairobi University to pursue a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications. She later got a job with an amazing travel magazine Nomad Africa which gave her the opportunity to explore Africa. She also writes for numerous travel websites about Africa and tries to create a new narrative in the media about our aesthetic continent.
Christine claims to have somewhat unhealthy addiction to TV and reading, as it is a fun way to keep herself occupied during the long journeys for her travel writing. She is also a believer of letting people be their beautiful selves. To her, love is love and it is the greatest gift we have as humans.
