Billie Eilish has opened up about her “frustration” at the lack of understanding surrounding Tourette’s syndrome, having been diagnosed with the condition aged 11.
The “Birds of a Feather” singer spoke about her experience with the neurological condition, which is characterised by unintentional movements and vocalisations known as tics, during an appearance on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast.
The 24-year-old explained that for her, those vocal tics predominantly came out in the form of noises that she could keep fairly quiet, “luckily for me and for everyone else”.
Eilish then explained: “I go through phases of words becoming tics, but there’s this thing called suppressing, if you’ve ever heard of it.
“When I’m in an interview, I’m doing everything in my power to suppress all of my tics constantly and as soon as I leave the room I have to let them all out.”
Tics are thought to be caused by changes in brain circuits involved in impulse control and inhibition. They vary between people and fluctuate in frequency, type and intensity, which can be challenging to manage.
Public interest in Tourette’s syndrome increased in the wake of John Davidson’s involuntary outburst at the Baftas in February.
During the ceremony, Tourette’s activist Davidson, whose life was the subject of award-winning film I Swear, shouted a racial slur at actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo. In the aftermath of the Baftas, Davidson said he was “deeply mortified” if anyone felt the racial slur had been intentional.
Eilish went on to explain that for her, Tourette’s led to her voicing her intrusive thoughts. “I think what’s troubling about the way that people do not understand what Tourette’s is, if I start having a tic attack, like a lot of tics in a row, people are like, ‘Are you OK?’ This is very much normal,” she said.
“If you didn’t see me tic today, then you aren’t looking at my knees which are ticcing constantly under this table… I’m clenching my arms the entire time, and I’m doing this [hand movement] for the entire time.
“But currently because I’m on camera and I’m having a conversation and I’m trying not to be distracting… I’m doing everything I can to suppress every single tic that is visible from the top of my head to about [my waist].”
Eilish concluded: “That’s how we, as people with Tourette’s, pretty much spend our days. And some people don’t even have the privilege of getting to suppress them at all, in any way. The not understanding of that is really frustrating as a person with Tourette’s.”
