Not My Responsibility
Not My Responsibility is a short film written and produced by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish. Not My Responsibility depicts Billie Eilish undressing to a commentary made by herself, addressing and criticizing public perception and opinion of her body and clothing choices, before submerging into a black-colored substance.
Not My Responsibility | |
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Produced by | Billie Eilish |
Written by | Billie Eilish |
Starring | Billie Eilish |
Distributed by |
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Running time | 4 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
The film was originally premiered during Eilish's Where Do We Go? World Tour in March 2020 as a visual interlude. The video received 16 million views on YouTube and 18 million on Instagram within its first five days of release. The film received positive reviews from fans and critics alike, praising the tone and subject matter.
Synopsis
Not My Responsibility begins with Eilish wearing a black jacket in a dimly lit room. She gradually undresses until she is in nothing but a necklace and a black bra. The film ends with Eilish completely submerging in a black, tar-like substance.
The film features commentary from Eilish, addressing the public discussion around her body image and criticizing the way in which the public decides her worth based on her body.
Release
The film was originally premiered during Eilish's Where Do We Go? World Tour in March 2020 as a visual interlude.[1][2] The film was uploaded onto Billie Eilish's YouTube channel two months later on May 26th, 2020.[3] The video received 16 million views on YouTube and 18 million on Instagram within its first five days of release.[4]
Critical reception
Not My Responsibility received positive reviews from fans and critics alike. The film serves as Eilish's response to negativity from the public on what she wears and how she acts, stating how pleasing everyone is "not [her] responsibility".[5][6] Althea Legaspi of Rolling Stone regarded the piece as "powerful"[7] while Karenna Meredith of PopSugar praised it for its "strong message", adding how "Eilish has been open about her struggles with body image that started in adolescence, and how the public eye has caused her to rely on a baggy wardrobe to feel comfortable. Her video appears to be an important extension of these feelings, where Eilish can finally address her critics on her own terms." [8] Carolyn Twersky of Yahoo News praised the "intense" subject matter and Eilish for "call[ing] out sexism" in the film.[9]
References
- Nesvig, Kara. "Billie Eilish Released the Full Version of Her Tour Manifesto". Teen Vogue.
- EDT, Emma Nolan On 5/27/20 at 9:02 AM (May 27, 2020). "Billie Eilish's powerful body image video 'Not My Responsibility' praised by fans". Newsweek.
- EDT, Emma Nolan On 5/27/20 at 9:02 AM (May 27, 2020). "Billie Eilish's powerful body image video 'Not My Responsibility' praised by fans". Newsweek.
- "BILLIE EILISH on Instagram: "a short film originally produced for and seen on tour made by billie eilish"". Instagram.
- "Watch Billie Eilish go after body-shamers in 'Not My Responsibility' short film". EW.com.
- "Billie Eilish Takes Trolls to Task With 'Not My Responsibility': Watch". Billboard. May 26, 2020.
- "Billie Eilish Slams Body Shaming in Powerful 'Not My Responsibility' Short Film". www.msn.com.
- Meredith, Karenna (May 26, 2020). "Billie Eilish's Short Film Sends a Strong Message to Body Shamers: "Not My Responsibility"". POPSUGAR Fitness.
- "Billie Eilish's Intense Short Film Calls Out Sexism In the Most Epic Way". www.yahoo.com.