Billie Eilish urges LGBTQ+ fans to 'stay strong'

Billie Eilish used a new magazine interview to send a direct message to LGBTQ+ fans while also sketching out a possible future beyond pop touring. In an Attitude Uncut cover interview published on May 8, Eilish said, “I love you so much – stay strong,” and added, “You mean everything to me. (attitude.co.uk) That is my message.” The interview was published as Eilish promoted *Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)*, her new concert film co-directed with James Cameron. The movie opened in theaters on May 8 through Paramount Pictures. ### Where did Eilish make the “stay strong” comment? (hitmehardandsoftmovie.com) Attitude Uncut published the comment in a cover interview by Jamie Tabberer on May 8. The outlet said Eilish addressed her LGBTQ fan base directly, telling them, “I love you so much – stay strong,” before adding, “You mean everything to me. That is my message.” Attitude said the interview was tied to the release of Eilish’s new concert film. The publication described *Attitude Uncut* as a digital-first companion to *Attitude* and said the full interview was available through Apple News+ and the Attitude app. (attitude.co.uk) ### Why is the message surfacing again this week? AceShowbiz and other entertainment sites recirculated the Attitude interview on May 16, highlighting both the LGBTQ+ message and Eilish’s comments about musical theatre. Those follow-up items did not present the remarks as a new standalone statement from Eilish; they pointed back to the Attitude interview published on May 8. (attitude.co.uk) The renewed attention came as Eilish continued press around the concert film. NME and other outlets also published fresh coverage this week tied to the movie and to her broader comments on live-performance culture. (attitude.co.uk) ### What did she say about musical theatre? AceShowbiz reported on May 16 that Eilish said she would be interested in exploring musical theatre in the future. The outlet said the comment came during a conversation with Fleur East on *Hits Radio Breakfast*, where Eilish responded positively to the idea of doing musical theatre “someday.” (aceshowbiz.com) The idea is not entirely new in Eilish’s public comments. In 2024, coverage of a Grammys red-carpet interview reported that Eilish said she would be open to writing for theatre, while her brother and collaborator Finneas O’Connell said she had seen *Matilda* many times. (nme.com) ### How does the James Cameron film fit into this? Paramount Pictures’ official film site says *Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)* opened in theaters on May 8, 2026. Attitude said Eilish spoke to the magazine to mark that release. (aceshowbiz.com) Eilish told Attitude that she insisted the filmed version preserve the live show she had been performing on tour. “You’re not allowed to change anything about this show,” she said of her discussions with Cameron, adding that the editing process became the core of their collaboration. (broadwayworld.com) The New York Times reported on May 8 that Eilish and Cameron teamed up to bring the *Hit Me Hard and Soft* tour to theaters in 3-D, describing the project as a concert film built from onstage and behind-the-scenes material. (hitmehardandsoftmovie.com) ### What else has Eilish been saying during the film rollout? NME reported this week that Eilish defended fans using phones at concerts while promoting the movie. According to that interview, she said filming shows is part of how her generation experiences live music. (attitude.co.uk) That press cycle has kept the focus on the film as much as on any next music release. Paramount’s official site continued listing showtimes on May 16, including 2D and 3D screenings in U.S. markets, indicating the theatrical run was still active a week after opening. (nytimes.com) ### What comes next? May 16 showtime listings on the official movie site showed *Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)* still playing in theaters, including same-day screenings in Washington, D.C.-area cinemas. Attitude said the full cover interview remained available through Apple News+ and the Attitude app, where Eilish’s comments to LGBTQ+ fans were published. (nme.com) (hitmehardandsoftmovie.com)