Awkward Encounter at a Birthday Celebration
Finneas O’Connell, the brother of Billie Eilish and a talented musician in his own right, recently recounted a notably embarrassing exchange he had with Taylor Swift at her 32nd birthday party in 2021. In a candid interview with The Guardian, Finneas described the incident as his ‘most cringeworthy run-in with a celebrity.’
Embarrassment Unfolds
During the celebration, which was co-hosted by Alana Haim of the band Haim, Finneas mistakenly said to Swift, ‘Thanks for coming,’ to which she graciously replied, ‘Thank you so much for coming.’ He quickly added, ‘Thank you for coming!’ This mix-up has stuck with him since.
This isn’t the first time Finneas has shared his embarrassing moment; he previously brought it up in a Q&A with fans on Instagram in 2022. He expressed that he had intended to say, ‘thanks for inviting me,’ instead of his awkward phrasing.
Insights on Life and Career
In his chat with The Guardian aimed at promoting his music with bandmate Ashe, Finneas also revealed his talent for impersonations. When asked about his hidden skills, he mentioned, ‘Impressions. And I’m not doing one for you. The one I do the most is probably Benny Blanco.’
Reality TV Dreams
Finneas shared that if given the opportunity, he would love to appear on ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’ with Ty Pennington, someone he admired growing up.
Wise Words
Reflecting on advice that has inspired him, he recalled, ‘A guy who’s a mastering engineer once said to me, “Listen man, if something ever goes wrong, you just rock out.”’ He noted how this advice helped him during a recent performance when things were not going as planned, saying, ‘What’s my alternative here? Oh, my flight’s delayed four hours? Let’s rock out, dude.’
Recent Projects
In May, Finneas featured actress Kate Hudson in the music video for his song ‘2001,’ drawing inspiration from Stanley Kubrick’s iconic film, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Expressing his gratitude on Instagram, he thanked Hudson for being a part of the project, calling her ‘the best actor, best person.’
He credited his girlfriend, Claudia Sulewski, for conceptualizing the video, stating, ‘I asked her out of nowhere if she wanted to direct a video for 2001.’ He recounted a sweet exchange with her when she managed to create an elaborate idea for the video even amidst her busy schedule filming a TV show.
A Grammy-Winning Legacy
Throughout his career, Finneas has earned ten Grammys, thanks in part to his collaborations with his sister Billie Eilish. Recently, the siblings received four Grammy nominations for their work on Billie’s album Hit Me Hard and Soft, set to be honored at the 2025 Grammy ceremony.
