Billie Eilish accepted the Music Innovator Award at the WSJ Innovator Awards and used her acceptance speech to deliver a bold message directly to the billionaires sitting in the audience. The pop star announced she had donated 11.5 million dollars from her recent Hit Me Hard and Soft tour proceeds to the Changemaker program, which supports organizations dedicated to climate justice and reducing carbon pollution, before challenging the world’s wealthiest people to do the same. Standing at the podium, Eilish pointed out that while she appreciates everyone, there were people in the room with far more money than her who could make an even bigger impact. Her direct question to billionaires was simple but powerful: if you are a billionaire, why are you a billionaire, and why aren’t you giving your money away to people who desperately need it.
The 23 year old singer didn’t call out specific names, but the event was attended by billionaires including filmmaker George Lucas and Mark Zuckerberg with his wife Priscilla Chan, who received the Innovator of the Year Award for her work advancing science to cure and prevent diseases. Eilish emphasized that the world is in a really dark time right now and people need empathy and help, making it the perfect moment for those with wealth to use their money for good. Her speech went viral on social media as fans praised her willingness to speak truth to power in a room full of some of the world’s richest people. By backing up her words with an 11.5 million dollar donation of her own, Eilish proved she’s not just talking about change but actively creating it while inspiring others to step up and do the same.
