What is queerbaiting as Billie Eilish receives backlash on Twitter?
Billie Eilish has been accused of queerbaiting (Picture: @billieeilish/Instagram)  Billie Eilishs new music video, Lost Cause, was released on June 2 and has already amassed over 46 million views on YouTube. However, the 19-year-old singer has received backlash on Twitter after users accused her of queerbaiting in the music video. Fans have come to Billies aid, insisting the video isnt queerbaiting, but is instead just the young singer exploring her sexuality without labels. As the discussion continues, with added importance seeing that June is Pride Month, Metro.co.uk takes a look at what queerbaiting is and how it hurts the LGBT+ community. Here is all you need to know. Queerbaiting is essentially a marketing ploy that celebrities, TV and film writers and authors use to appeal to an LGBT+ audience. Queerbaiting is like flirting with a queer person for personal gain but not following through with it. Ariana Grande was accused of queerbaiting in 2019 (Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)  The concept is usually applied to film, television, and music, with a few artists being accused of hinting at queerness in order to maximise the market to which they appeal. Accusations of queerbaiting can be difficult to navigate, as we dont always know how artists identify. Essentially, when someone or something is accused of queerbaiting, it means that theyve suggested queerness without following through. In TV and film, LGBTQ characterisation and storylines are alluded to but never delivered, leaving people hungry for better representation. here goes my rant. billie eilish. i love her music. but her music video is queer baiting. it is proving that wlw relationships are not seen as valid relationships because its just how straight best friends act despite them flirting / being close to kissing each other. Queerbaiting can be harmful because LGBT+ representation is not widely portrayed in the media. Straight singers, actors, and celebrities are given large platforms whilst LGBT+ ones are not. Then, the same straight celebs exploit gay culture and commodify queerness for profit. LGBT+ rights charity Stonewall said there needs to better, and more authentic representation of LGBT+ people and culture in mainstream media. In 2019, a charity spokesperson told Metro.co.uk: The reaction to stories like these show just how much demand there is for more and better, representation of people with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities in the media.  To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video  However, some Billie Eilish fans have come to her defense, saying that queerbaiting can be problematic in itself. It doesnt leave much room for experimentation and fluidity, and focusses heavily on labels and outing people who may not be ready to label themselves. In 2018, Rita Ora faced a backlash for her song Girls, which described sexual relationships between women. Ora quickly responded to this criticism, posting an apology to Twitter in which she came out as bisexual. The singer said that the song was written to represent my truth and is an accurate account of a very real and honest experience in my life. Male celebrities, on the contrary, are often praised for embracing gender fluidity and challenging sexual norms. For example, Watermelon Sugar singer Harry Style has frequently made headlines over the last year for challenging gender and sexuality norms through his outfits. Previously speaking about his love of gender-fluid dressing, he told Vogues December issue: Clothes are there to have fun with and experiment with and play with. Whats really exciting is that all of these lines are just kind of crumbling away. When you take away Theres clothes for men and theres clothes for women, once you remove any barriers, obviously you open up the arena in which you can play.  Harry Style is praised for embracing gender fluidity and challenging sexual norms (Picture: AFP)  Some Twitter users have pointed out that a group of female friends is often seen as more sexual than it is due to the male gaze in society and culture. My hot take on the Billie Eilish queer baiting. Less labels more love   BIMINI! STREAM GOD SAVE THIS QUEEN (@biminibabes) June 15, 2021  RuPauls Drag Race UK finalist Bimini Bon Boulash tweeted: My hot take on the Billie Eilish queer baiting. Less labels more love. Also there have been tonnes of MALE musicians that get away with blurring the lines of gender and sexuality and are praised for it. We hold females at a higher standard. If Billie is straight good, if she isnt great. Is anyone fully 100% straight?  Billie has not commented on the controversy, and has never defined her sexuality  not that she is obliged to. However, on June 12, fans saw that Billie liked an Instagram post from a fan account telling accusers to mind your business. The post from @bepat1entdamn read: This fandom is so embarrassing sometimes like why would you go in someones comments and say something that you literally dont even know is true and something yall LITERALLY MADE UP, sometimes yall are so dumb. All the info on Billie Eilishs new boyfriend  Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram  Share your views in the comments below