billie eilish

MONTREALITY/YouTube

‘Culture vulture’: Billie Eilish sparks backlash over her favorite cartoon character

‘We told y’all she was a culture vulture.'

 

Audra Schroeder

IRL

Posted on Jul 12, 2021   Updated on Jul 13, 2021, 11:06 am CDT

Billie Eilish is once again facing scrutiny for a resurfaced video, this time for a 2018 interview in which she reveals her favorite cartoon character.

The clip was posted to Twitter last week and is from a longer interview with music site Montreality. When asked about her favorite cartoon character in one segment, she says it’s Cindy from The Boondocks.

“That’s me if I just did all the things I thought about doing,” Eilish says. “If I didn’t have good judgement.” She goes on to cite a few of her favorite Cindy moments from the Adult Swim series, adding that the character is “Fire.”

https://twitter.com/knotIess/status/1412807330404597770

The Boondocks is known for satirizing Black culture and stereotypes, but in the minor character of Cindy, the show satirized white girls who dress and act Black. And Eilish has been accused of cultural appropriation in the past.

While some said this was just another example of appropriation, others didn’t see why liking a cartoon character was such a big deal.

https://twitter.com/dessoawe/status/1412850598458843136

Less than a month ago, Eilish apologized for a 5-year-old video in which she apparently mouthed an anti-Asian slur. She was also accused of using a “blaccent.” She has not yet responded to this most recent callout.

An HBO Max reboot of The Boondocks, with original creator Aaron McGruder, is reportedly set for 2022.


More essential culture reads


Share this article
*First Published: Jul 12, 2021, 11:57 am CDT