Billie Eilish may be one of the biggest musicians on the planet right now, but she gave travellers a shock when she was spotted on a recent commercial flight.
Proving she’s as down-to-earth as ever, the 21-year-old swapped private jets and first-class preference of celebrities to sit in an economy window seat. Though she tried to stay relatively incognito with a beanie and hoodie, her trademark style was a dead giveaway.
The move garnered plenty of praise from fans, admiring the What Was I Made For? singer’s humility despite a $46 million reported net worth. Of course, before you start wondering what unassuming flyer got to sit next to her, she was with members of her team. Eilish even posted a photo of herself listening to music on the journey.
While it might not seem like the biggest deal, the choice to fly economy is actually quite major for a star of Eilish’s repute. As the Earth buckles under the pressure of human impact, celebrities have come under fire for their rampant private flying.
In July last year, Kylie Jenner faced a torrent of criticism for her decision to charter a private jet on just a 17-minute trip. It’s estimated that her short journey would’ve resulted in a ton of carbon dioxide emissions, which is about a quarter of the total annual carbon footprint of the average person globally. Had she taken a car, Jenner would’ve caused a fraction of the emissions on a 40-minute drive.
British sustainability marketing firm Yard then named and shamed the “worst private jet CO2 emission offenders” among Hollywood’s elite. Taylor Swift topped the list with 170 trips in the first six months of 2022, with total flight emissions for the year reaching 8,293.54 tons, or 1,184.8 times more than the average person, Yard claimed. While it can’t be determined if she was on board for all the trips, and her reps confirmed that she does loan her jet out to others, the sheer volume of trips provoked the wrath of the internet. In second and third place were Floyd Mayweather and Jay-Z, respectively.
Though there’s certainly a point to be made about privacy and the pressures that can come with being a person of note on a commercial flight, the hypocrisy of climate action is a point of contention. Even the British royal family fly economy.
Eilish, however, has long been an advocate for climate awareness. In London last year, the singer hosted a six-day-long event titled ‘Overheated’ that brought together musicians, activists, and fashion experts to discuss the state of the planet, how to tackle anxiety around climate change and how to make an impact on an individual level. The event returns for a second year later this month.
As individuals, we do what we can to do our part, but our reusable cups and paper straws feel inconsequential in the face of these mighty omissions. And with global warming being reclassified as global burning, Eilish’s act can hopefully set an example.
