Billie Eilish Discusses Tourette Syndrome and Suppressing Tics

May 5, 2026, Billie Eilish appeared on Amy Poehler’s *Good Hang with Amy Poehler* podcast. Diagnosed with Tourette syndrome at age 11, she said she “does everything in my power to suppress all of my tics constantly” and releases them “as soon as I leave the room.” She described her vocal tics as “just noises” and noted motor tics such as “knees…ticking under the table” and “clenching my arms.”

Ardrossan and Saltcoats HeraldBillie Eilish Shares She Does 'Everything' She Can To Suppress Tourette Syndrome TicsThe GuardianDaily BeastComplex

Tourette syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by involuntary sounds and movements, known as tics. The NHS notes that stress, excitement or fatigue can trigger tics, which vary in frequency. The Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia defines TS as “rapid, repetitive and involuntary muscle movements and vocalisations.” These descriptions frame Eilish’s suppression as a coping response rather than a voluntary act.

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Eilish said she “goes through phases of words becoming tics” and uses a technique she calls “suppressing.” During interviews she holds back vocal and motor tics, calling the effort “exhausting and oftentimes distracting.” After leaving, she lets the accumulated tics surface. She likened it to “intrusive thoughts…with your mouth forced to say them out loud,” highlighting the mental strain of constant self-monitoring.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald

Eilish said observers often respond to a “tic attack” with “Are you OK?” or laughter, assuming the behavior is comedic. She described the reaction as “incredibly offended.” In a 2022 interview with David Letterman, she noted people “think I’m trying to be funny” when they see her tics, a misunderstanding that fuels stigma.

Billie Eilish Shares She Does 'Everything' She Can To Suppress Tourette Syndrome Tics

• “Speaking to Amy Poehler on her Good Hang Podcast, the 24-year-old singer spoke about living with the condition and said: “I do have Tourette’s and I have vocal tics, but luckily for me and for everyone else, they’re mostly just noises and I can keep them pretty quiet.” — Billie Eilish, Singer-songwriter

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald

• “When I’m in an interview, I’m doing everything in my power to suppress all of my tics constantly and as soon as I leave the room I have to let them all out.” — Billie Eilish

The Independent

• “The most common way that people react is they laugh because they think I’m trying to be funny…and I’m always left incredibly offended by that.” — Billie Eilish

Complex

• “It’s like, if you didn’t see me tic today, you’re not looking at my knees, which are tic-ing constantly under this table, and my elbows that are like… I’m clenching my arms the entire time.” — Billie Eilish

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald

Eilish’s discussion challenges the stereotype that Tourette syndrome involves profanity, highlighting the spectrum of tic presentations. Describing the effort to suppress tics draws attention to the mental and physical toll of constant self-monitoring, underscoring the need for greater public understanding. Her openness underscores the importance of nuanced representations of Tourette syndrome in popular culture.

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