When the world’s wealthiest technocrat refuses to clap for a pop star calling out billionaires, the web notices the whole lot.
Mark Zuckerberg discovered himself in a clumsy highlight on the WSJ Journal’s 2025 Innovator Awards on Wednesday, Oct. 29, in New York Metropolis.
The Meta CEO sat stone-faced in a room full of rich and highly effective friends as Billie Eilish, the night’s Music Innovator Award recipient, delivered a pointed message about wealth inequality. Whereas accepting her honor for elevating $11.5 million for organizations addressing meals insecurity and local weather change by means of her nonprofit Assist + Feed, the nine-time Grammy winner didn’t mince phrases, in accordance with Billboard.
She seemed out on the room of supremely rich friends, together with Zuckerberg, whose Forbes-estimated web value of $222 billion makes him the fifth-richest particular person on the earth, alongside Elon Musk’s spouse, Priscilla Chan, who was honored that evening for her philanthropy work as head of CZI.
‘OMG Her Face’: Billie Eilish Yanked Into Crowd By a Fan In Surprising Live performance Second That Left the Crowd and Viewers Gasping
Eilish then took the rostrum to ship what would develop into probably the most talked-about moments of the evening.
“Individuals want empathy and assist in our nation,” the 23-year-old artist instructed the star-studded viewers. She proceeded to ship a blunt name to motion on to the heavy hitters within the room.
“I’d say in case you have the cash, it might be nice to make use of it for good issues and provides it to some those who want it,” Eilish instructed the gang. “Love you all, however there’s just a few folks in right here which have much more cash than me. When you’re not utilizing it, give it to anyone that want it.”
She closed with an unforgettable line: “No hate, however give your cash away, shorties.”
Zuckerberg’s response, or lack thereof, spoke volumes.
As Eilish delivered her passionate plea, the tech billionaire notably didn’t clap throughout her remarks, a element that social media customers have been fast to select up on and dissect.
The distinction between the 2 couldn’t be starker.
Eilish, whose web value is estimated at $53 million, grew up poor in Highland Park, Los Angeles, the place her household struggled financially and he or she solely had one pair of footwear and a shirt. Her dad and mom have been actors who supplemented their earnings with odd jobs whereas homeschooling Billie and her brother Finneas.
In the meantime, Zuckerberg didn’t develop up poor. Born in 1984 in White Plains, New York, to a well-educated household with a dentist father and psychiatrist mom, he was raised in a middle- to upper-middle-class neighborhood in Dobbs Ferry, in accordance with Biography.com.
The web had a lot to say in regards to the awkward second. Y! Leisure readers weighed in with blended opinions, with many calling her a hypocrite.
“When somebody value $50 million yells at others for the way wealthy they’re – you recognize it’s simply their ego compensating,” one particular person wrote.
One other provided a special perspective, noting, ” Celebrities are getting worse with their self-delusions. A millionaire criticizing billionaires for being too rich is the peak of hypocrisy.”
Others defended Eilish’s proper to talk on wealth inequality.
“Gotta love those who pocket watch different folks. Hey, should you donate cash dont disgrace different for not? Oh and Im positive that inventory has donated properly over 11.5 million,” one particular person wrote.
In the meantime, one other commenter raised the bar for what would represent significant motion, stating, “It would actually make an impression when a celeb refuses a paycheck over $100K and refuses to pollute with personal jets, yachts, limousines, and the like.”
One reader tried to clarify the mechanics of billionaire wealth, writing, “These ‘billionaires’ are simply ‘value’ billions .. they don’t even have it. They go to banks and commerce Loans for inventory.. then, they get the cash… and dont should pay taxes on it as a result of it’s debt with a yearly pay tax on debt… and attempt to pay it.”
Simply days earlier, throughout the first of her three-night Miami present on Oct. 9, Eilish skilled a jarring second with followers. After performing “Guess,” she jumped off stage and walked alongside a barricade touching fingers with followers. Her excessive 5 circulation bought interrupted when all of the sudden a concertgoer yanked her so onerous that she fell beside the barricade. Safety swiftly stepped in to push the person again as shocked followers seemed on.
Zuckerberg’s chilly shoulder on the awards ceremony suggests Eilish’s message hit nearer to dwelling than he would have favored, and the web’s blended reactions show that conversations about wealth and duty, particularly with the reduce of SNAP advantages throughout the nation, stay as difficult as ever.
