Billie Eilish donates $11.5M to hunger and climate initiatives

Billie Eilish used her acceptance speech at the WSJ. Magazine Innovator Awards on Wednesday night to urge wealthy individuals to give more of their wealth to charitable causes and announced a major donation from her tour. Speaking at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the 23 year old accepted the Music Innovator Award and disclosed that she had raised 11.5 million dollars from her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour to support a Changemaker Program aimed at food equity, climate justice and reducing carbon pollution.

Eilish framed the donation as part of a broader call to action. "We're in a time right now where the world is really, really bad and really dark and people need empathy and help more than, kind of, ever, especially in our country," she said. "I'd say if you have money, it would be great to use it for good things, maybe give it to some people that need it." She directed a sharper line at the room’s wealthier guests when she added, "If you're a billionaire, why are you a billionaire? No hate, but yeah, give your money away, shorties."

Host Stephen Colbert announced the size and purpose of the donation onstage before Eilish spoke, saying the proceeds would support...