Billie Eilish recalls 'really hard' moment she 'lost all her friends' when becoming famous

Billie Eilish has opened up on the difficulties of 'losing all of her friends' when she 'got famous'.

The singer, 22, rose to fame when she was just 14-years-old with her debut single 'Ocean Eyes', written and produced by her brother Finneas O'Connell.

Her first studio project When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? rocketed to number one in the US and UK charts, gaining the title as one of 2019's best-selling albums.

Arguably the highlight of her career came after winning her second Academy Award for 'What Was I Made For?' for the Margot Robbie-led Barbie film in 2023.

Despite such success, it can be a lonely place at the top, as Eilish recently explained to Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver on the BBC podcast Miss Me?.

The 22-year-old said that being famous had made it hard for her to keep her old friends.

In fact, she claims she lost them 'all'.

"I suddenly was famous and I couldn’t relate to anybody," she said. "It was tough. It was really hard."

However, Eilish did clarify that her best friend Zoe stuck by her, but that was it.

The rest of her so-called friends were subsequently also her employees.

Billie Eilish has opened up on fame and some of its downsides. (BBC)

"And then it was my 20th birthday and I remember looking around the room and it was only people that I employ. And all 15 years or more older than me," she continued.

After one of her employees quit working for her and cut all ties, Eilish said: "It was the worst thing that happened to me. And that made me realise like ‘oh wait, this is a job'.

"If they left me they would never see me again."

Eilish has since made the decision to get in touch with her old mates.

"Exactly a year ago, I reconnected with a bunch of old friends and now, I have so many friends,” she said.

“I have a crew now! I could literally cry about it. It’s been the greatest thing that’s happened to me."

The singer admitted she lost most of her friends when she became famous. (Shirlaine Forrest/Getty Images for Live Nation UK)

Recalling a recent Coachella party with her new crew, Eilish added: "I was like, guys, I have friends and I just love you guys so much, and it’s been so long since I’ve had friends.

"I cried… and it’s literally because I actually have friendship now again.”

The singer noted that after hearing Allen’s 'Smile' song, it inspired her to make new pals.

In the 2006 track, Allen sings: "But with a little help from my friends / I found the light in the tunnel at the end."

After all, friends are the family you can choose.