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Billie Eilish made headlines after using her acceptance speech at the Wall Street Journal Magazine Innovator Awards to call out billionaires — including Mark Zuckerberg, who was in attendance — urging them to use their wealth for good.
The 23-year-old singer received the Music Innovator Award during the ceremony held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York on October 29, where she addressed the audience filled with influential figures from business, entertainment, and fashion.
"We're in a time right now where the world is really, really bad and really dark and people need empathy and help more than ever, especially in our country," Eilish said during her speech. "I'd say if you have money, it would be great to use it for good things, maybe give it to some people that need it."
She continued, directly addressing the wealthy crowd: "Love you all, but there's a few people in here that have a lot more money than me. If you're a billionaire, why are you a billionaire? No hate, but yeah, give your money away, shorties."
The audience included Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan, who was also honored at the event for her philanthropic work. According to attendees, Zuckerberg did not clap following Eilish's remarks. The Facebook founder is currently among the world's richest individuals, with a net worth exceeding $250 billion.
Despite her criticism, Eilish demonstrated her own commitment to social causes that same night. Host Stephen Colbert revealed that she had donated $11.5 million from her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour to organizations focused on food equity, climate justice, and reducing carbon pollution.
"Thank you, Billie, for allowing me to do this," Colbert said while announcing the donation. "Billie Eilish will be donating proceeds from her tour to support organizations, projects, and voices dedicated to combating the climate crisis. That donation, ladies and gentlemen, will be $11.5 million."
Eilish, known for her environmental advocacy, has previously prioritized sustainability in her music projects — including using recycled materials for vinyls and merchandise and encouraging fans to use public transport during her tours.
Eilish attended the ceremony alongside her mother, Maggie Baird, and appeared to enjoy the evening despite the tension her comments stirred among the elite audience.
