American singer and songwriter Billie Eilish, in her latest song, condemned the Internet for caring more about Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's defamation trial than the Supreme Court's recent abortion verdict.
The song lyrics of Eilish's 'TV' goes by "The internet's gone wild watching movie stars on trial / While they're overturning Roe v. Wade", reported Variety. The 20-year-old singer premiered this song at the Manchester concert.
Through the song 'TV', Eilish was referring to the heavily publicized defamation trial of actors Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard. The trial became an Internet sensation for weeks and people seemed to care more about the verdict of these celebrities than the US Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade.
According to Eilish, while she was concerned with "losing her own body rights," the netizens were giving their opinion on the trial, reported Variety.
"I was in this state of depression, losing my own rights to my own body, and then I'd go on the internet and it would be people giving their take on this trial. Women are losing rights to their bodies, so why are we talking about celebrities' divorce trials? Let them figure it out on their own. The Internet bothers the shit out of me sometimes," the singer said in an interview with the New Musical Express(NME).
Eilish's interview was published on June 24, the same day the US Supreme Court gave its verdict overturning Roe v. Wade which eliminated the nearly 50-year-old constitutional right to abortion and ruled that states may regulate the practice of it.
Despite the announcement, Eilish found out that netizens were more concerned with the defamation trial of the celebrities, reported Variety. The 'Lovely' singer admitted that she "wanted to go back to her roots."
"I just wanted to go back to my roots: to put a little guitar song back out, and feel like how I used to. I was just missing that feeling and missed doing a song that no one had heard yet," said Eilish.
Meanwhile, on the work front, Eilish would be lending her voice to Disney and Pixar's manga comic adaptation titled 'Turning Red: 4*Town 4*Real: The Manga'
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.