Billie Eilish has just candidly shared her journey of suppressing her tics during public appearances, revealing that she has Tourette's syndrome. In an interview with Amy Poehler on the 'Good Hang' podcast, the American singer revealed that it was a constant struggle to keep her tics in check. Billie also expressed her struggles with the lack of understanding towards those with the condition, especially those who don't have the ability to suppress their tics.
Tourette's syndrome is a condition that typically begins in childhood and is characterized by involuntary motor and vocal tics. Billie explained how she goes through phases where words become tics and how suppressing them can be a challenge. She said, "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."
Billie expressed her concerns about the lack of education surrounding Tourette's syndrome. She said, "I think what's troubling is that people don't understand what Tourette's is. If I start having a tic attack, people ask if I'm okay, but it's like this is very much normal and like I didn't notice. If you didn't see me tic today, then you aren't looking at my knees which are ticcing constantly under this table and my elbows, I'm clenching my arms the entire time."
The 24-year-old singer continued, "But currently because I'm on camera and I'm having a conversation, I'm trying not to be distracting. I'm really doing this whole time as much fun as I'm having - I'm doing everything I can to suppress every single tic that is visible from the top of my head to about right here [points to her waist]."
"That's how we, people with Tourette's, pretty much spend our days. Some people don't even have the privilege of getting to suppress them at all, in any way. The lack of understanding of that is really frustrating as a person with Tourette's," Billie added.
Billie Eilish was diagnosed with Tourette's when she was 11 years old and publicly addressed the disorder in 2022 while appearing on season four of David Letterman's Netflix talk show 'My Next Guest Needs No Introduction', where she had an uncontrollable tic.
