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Finneas denies accusations that Billie Eilish is successful because of nepotism
25 February 2020, 13:13
"Our parents were never able to fully financially support us off of their work as actors."
Finneas has responded to claims that he and his sister Billie Eilish achieved their success thanks to nepotism.
On Sunday (Feb 23), Finneas received backlash over a tweet. He tweeted: "A piece of advice to young creatives. “Shooting your shot” is promoted widely and I think honestly, it’s a little overrated. Work super hard alone or with your closest friends. Make shit so good it speaks for itself. Don’t pester people to work with you, let them come to you".
READ MORE: Hayley Williams says she will "beat up" anyone who’s mean to Billie Eilish
People immediately started calling out Finneas. Some said that they don't have the privilege not to "pester people" to work with them. Fans also pointed out that, while it may have worked for Finneas and Billie, it's not so easy for everyone. Others said that it's easy for Finneas to say that when his parents (Maggie Baird and Patrick O'Connell) are actors and he's a white man.
A piece of advice to young creatives. “Shooting your shot” is promoted widely and I think honestly, it’s a little overrated. Work super hard alone or with your closest friends. Make shit so good it speaks for itself. Don’t pester people to work with you, let them come to you
— FINNEAS (@finneas) February 23, 2020
I don’t think everyone’s parents were actors/actresses in the media industry like yours. I believe no one would have heard of you or Billie if you hadn’t had the same parental guidance or made some effort to network and shoot your shot... talent isn’t all that’s required.
— Emon (@MoSteezy13) February 23, 2020
Easy to say this high from you’re pedestal. If Ocean Eyes didn’t take off. You’d both be nobodies still. You’d probably be shooting you’re shot to! Ultimately someone has to be the one to give an artist a shot otherwise we’d have no new artists you got lucky!
— Pinelaw (@pinelaww) February 23, 2020
Spoken like someone born to two actors in LA. Here’s my piece of advice: check your privilege. Some of us have full time jobs, and are desperate to escape those conditions. My dad was a mechanic. I can’t even afford his funeral. I have $700 in my bank. So yeah, I’ll shoot my shot
— osiris (@osirisblckk) February 23, 2020
For example, most poc artists immediately face blockage and gatekeeping. It's not that they don't work enough or their art lacks (fans would say not), it's the people who refuse to take them seriously.
— TaliQ 💚💜 ◎ (@btays777) February 23, 2020
Very dissappointed that you'd say this. You really need to check your privilege of 1. Being white
— ri⁷ (@Beyondthes0ul) February 23, 2020
2. Having some sort of industry connections.
Amd the first is the greater privilege. Someone much more talented and hard-working than you is still not getting their break cause of+
This is what people who benefit from nepotism will pull from their backside to tell us and it’s so draining 😂😂 https://t.co/f9SUxq8yFk
— stefan. (@brokenpromithes) February 24, 2020
Now Finneas has addressed the accusations that he and Billie benefit from nepotism.
Yesterday (Feb 24), Finneas tweeted: "During my life time, our parents were never able to fully financially support us off of their work as actors. Our dad worked 12 hour days 7 days a week as a construction worker for Mattel and our mom was a teacher. Our parents gave us love but knew no one in the record industry".
He then added: "I paid off their mortgage last year and billie pays them each salaries to tour with us full time though they have told us many times they would work for us for free. Anyone who saw us tour in 2019 knows our dad insists on sweeping the stage each night before we perform".
Anyone who saw us tour in 2019 knows our dad insists on sweeping the stage each night before we perform
— FINNEAS (@finneas) February 24, 2020
While it's understandable that Finneas wanted to make clear that he and Billie weren't born with industry connections, it's also understandable that people took issue with his initial tweet. Not everyone is lucky enough to be born with an equally talented sibling. They have to "shoot their shot".
