Billie Eilish can Let the girl eat lunch But he certainly isn’t eating an animal for dinner.
The 22-year-old pop star has many wins under her belt: nine Grammys, two Oscars and two Golden Globes. His music has been almost inescapable in recent years. from an arrogant trait Charli XCX’s “Guess” Gets Emotional On The Remix”What I was made forFor Blockbuster barbie film but arguably one of his greatest – yet unrecognized – achievements is making animal welfare care more accessible. … and cold.
A vegetarian for nearly a decade, Eilish has dedicated a large portion of her career to improving sustainability in the music industry, while also encouraging her fans to consider a plant-based diet. Although he became a vegetarian and never ate meat, he understands what it means to give up something you enjoy. “With milk, my God, did I love cheese and milk,” he told Los Angeles Magazine In 2023. “I was very much against going vegetarian. [Then] My mother became a vegetarian, then my brother, then my father.”
This change came after he learned about the dire consequences of the meat and dairy industry. Researchers estimate that animal agriculture is responsible for between 15 and 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and consumes more than a third of the planet. habitable land.
The factory farm system brutally kills more 80 billion Future Perfect has long reported that during the year land animals – animals that are confined to small cages, forced to endure cruel torture and usually do not go outside. It also takes a toll on communities living near factory farms one Study Found that Eastern North Carolina – a major the chicken And the pig Factory farm states — Residents living near these farms experience higher rates of kidney disease and infant mortality than other rural residents. Workers, too, face a high risk of possible exposure to the new virus: So far, sick workers account for nearly all of California Bird flu transmission from cattle to humans In October
“Once you know this kind of thing and you see it, it’s really hard to go back,” Eilish said 2021 video interview with Vogue. “And now, even though I have a lot of friends who eat dairy and meat and I never want to be told what to do, I just can’t go about my life knowing what’s going on in the animal world and not doing something about it.”
Celebrity advocacy often boils down to raising awareness, which can be effective, especially when your 120 million Instagram followers and a sold-out 83-stop world tour. Eilish, the first singer born in the 21st century to have a single top the Billboard 100, also has a clear Gen Z. Je nais se quoi when talking about animal rights. He is relatable. when he left YouTube talk show hot ones (where guests are challenged to eat spicy chicken wings) five years ago, He joked about growing up with the Internet and bad talent shows while eating very spicy (vegan!) chicken nuggets and not making a big deal about the swap.
“Vegans have a reputation for being incredibly boring,” she said Los Angeles Magazine. “And a lot of times, they are. Sorry. Because you know why? Nobody wants to be told what to do … I want it to be clear that I’m not preaching.”
But Eilish’s work for animals extends beyond just talking about the situation Factory farm or the zoo. He subtly pushes his fans to make more environmentally friendly choices by spotlighting them 120 Favorite Vegan Restaurants In tour cities, that’s for sure Plant-based food is available at every venueAnd His merchandise drops are limited To focus on affordable, sustainable options. (Her perfumeAlso, don’t test on animals.)
“Sometimes people have the perception that when things are more ethical, they’re more expensive, and so it’s hard to be plant-based or environmentally conscious if you don’t have that much money,” Eilish said. Billboard in March. “And so what we’re trying to do is make it more universally accessible.”
On a larger scale, the “Birds of a Feather” singer fights for progress by forcing change within big institutions like big fashion brands. The fashion industry – from wool to leather – downIt maims and kills billions Animals for clothing and footwear every year. There is also a widespread misconception that fabrics such as leather and wool are only by-products of meat production rather than co-products that make up a meaningful portion of the profits of animal agriculture. The problem has only accelerated with the normalization of consumerism.
In 2022, Hilsa worked with Nike To create the first vegan leather Air Force 1 sneakers made with 18 percent recycled materials. More notably, when Elish co-chaired the Met Gala in 2021, she pressured designer Oscar de la Renta to permanently stop using fur — or else she wouldn’t work with them. they did
“It was really important to me,” Hilsa told Billboard. “As a person who loves fashion, it’s difficult. I’ve tried to be a big advocate of animal products in clothing and it’s hard. People really like classic stuff. I understand, I am one of them. But what’s more important: things are real or our children are capable of living on the planet and having children?”
To Hilsa, veganism is not a diet. It is a way of communicating with the world. Change can be as small as choosing a mushroom burger at a concert or as big as changing an entire business model. In a culture increasingly shaped by the tastes and influences of celebrities, Eilish stands out as someone who is using his power for good
Clarification, November 21, 11:30 am ET: An earlier version of this story misrepresented the importance of dairy in Hilsa’s family life.
