Billie Eilish has always been a bit of an enigma. From the baggy clothes she wore early in her career to protect her body from public scrutiny to her sudden, high-fashion pivots, she’s never played by the industry’s rules. This applies to her love life, too. If you’re trying to figure out who did Billie Eilish date, you won’t find a clean, chronological list of public red-carpet debuts. It’s messier than that. It’s more private. Honestly, it’s a mix of secret heartbreaks, controversial age gaps, and some very public "it's over" announcements that set the internet on fire.
For years, Billie kept things under wraps. She famously told Capital Breakfast back in 2020 that she preferred to keep her relationships private because once they’re public, you can’t take them back. But as she grew from a teenage prodigy into a global icon, the wall started to crack. We started seeing glimpses of the people who inspired those gut-wrenching ballads on WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? and the more mature reflections on Happier Than Ever.
The Secret Relationship with Q (Brandon Adams)
The world didn't even know this was happening until it was already over. In her 2021 Apple TV+ documentary, The World’s a Little Blurry, fans were introduced to Brandon Adams, a rapper who goes by the name 7:AMP, or simply "Q." This wasn't just a casual fling; it was a defining chapter of her late teens.
They were together for about a year, ending in 2019. The documentary shows Billie being genuinely in love but also deeply lonely. It’s hard to watch. She’s seen backstage at her shows, waiting for a text that doesn’t come, or dealing with a boyfriend who just doesn't seem to have the same emotional capacity she does. One of the most telling scenes involves Q breaking his hand by punching a wall. Billie, clearly exhausted by the drama, says, "I just wasn’t happy. I didn't want the same things he wanted and I don’t think that’s fair for him."
The breakup was the catalyst for a lot of her music. When you listen to the lyrics of "I Love You" or "Wish You Were Gay," you're hearing the residue of that relationship. It’s the classic "right person, wrong time" scenario, or maybe just a young woman realizing she deserved more effort.
Why fans were protective
Social media went into a tailspin when the documentary aired. Fans saw a side of Billie they hadn’t seen—vulnerable and crying over a guy. Q faced a lot of backlash for his perceived "coldness," but Billie, ever the class act, hopped on Instagram to tell people to be nice. She reminded everyone that they only saw a sliver of the relationship. It’s a good reminder that documentaries are edited for narrative, even if the feelings are real.
Matthew Tyler Vorce and the Internet Sleuths
Fast forward to April 2021. Billie was spotted in Santa Barbara with actor Matthew Tyler Vorce. They were getting coffee. They had her dog, Shark. It looked... normal. But in the world of Billie Eilish, nothing stays normal for long.
The age gap was the first thing people latched onto. At the time, Billie was 19 and Matthew was 29. People had opinions. Loud ones. This is a recurring theme when discussing who did Billie Eilish date—the public’s obsession with the age of her partners.
Then came the "cancellation." Internet sleuths dug up old social media posts from Vorce that contained offensive language and slurs. He eventually issued a public apology on his Instagram Stories, taking full responsibility for the "hurtful" things he’d written in the past. It cast a shadow over the relationship that never really lifted.
By May 2022, Vorce confirmed they had split. He also took the time to address cheating rumors, which were rampant on TikTok. His take? "Nobody cheated on anybody. Relationships end. Simple as that. Creating rumors and SCREAMING on the internet is dangerous." It was a blunt end to a relationship that mostly lived in the shadows of paparazzi long-lenses.
The Jesse Rutherford Era: A Major Shift
If the Vorce relationship was a quiet flame, her time with Jesse Rutherford was a bonfire. Jesse, the frontman of The Neighbourhood, had known Billie since she was a young teen. When they started dating in late 2022, the internet basically broke.
The age gap here was 11 years (she was 20, he was 31). Because they had known each other when she was much younger, some fans felt "ick." But Billie and Jesse leaned into it. Hard. For Halloween, they dressed up as a baby and an old man. It was a giant middle finger to the critics. It was their way of saying, "We see what you're saying, and we don't care."
The Public Debut
They made their red carpet debut at the LACMA Art + Film Gala draped in a massive Gucci blanket. It was iconic. It was also the most public Billie had ever been with a partner. She did an interview with Vanity Fair where she gushed about him, saying she was "really excited and happy" about her relationship. She even called him the "hottest fing fer alive."
But by May 2023, reps for both artists confirmed they had split amicably. No drama. No messy diss tracks. In fact, months later, Billie was still calling him one of her "all-time best friends." It seems Jesse was a pivotal figure in helping her feel comfortable being seen in a relationship, even if it didn't last forever.
Coming Out and the Shift to "Hit Me Hard and Soft"
In a 2023 interview with Variety, Billie offhandedly mentioned she was attracted to women. She didn't think it was a "big reveal," but the world treated it like one. She later expressed some frustration with being "outed" on a red carpet, but it marked a new era in her personal life.
🔗 Read more: Jessie Cave: Why the Lavender Brown Star is Reclaiming Her Body on Her Own Terms
The 2024 album HIT ME HARD AND SOFT is widely believed to explore these themes. The song "LUNCH" is an explicit anthem about her attraction to women. While she hasn't publicly confirmed a long-term girlfriend yet, she was spotted at Coachella 2024 getting very close with YouTuber Quenlin Blackwell.
Was it a relationship? A hookup? Just friends having fun? Billie hasn't said. And honestly, she might never. She’s moved into a phase where her sexuality is part of her art, but the specific names of her partners aren't always for us to know.
Why We Care So Much
It’s easy to dismiss celebrity dating as gossip. But with Billie, it’s different. Her music is so diary-like that knowing the "who" helps fans understand the "why" behind the lyrics. When she sings about being used, or feeling invisible, or finding someone who finally "gets" her, we look for the real-world counterpart.
There's also the element of her growing up in front of us. We saw the 17-year-old crying over Q, and now we see the 22-year-old woman confidently singing about her desires. It’s a coming-of-age story set to a Grammy-winning soundtrack.
The common threads in her dating history:
- Creative types: Every person she’s been linked to is an artist—musicians, actors, rappers.
- Privacy first: She almost never posts about her partners on her main Instagram grid.
- Maturity gaps: She often dates older, which she has defended as a personal preference based on her own maturity level.
- Amicable endings: Aside from the early drama with Q, her breakups seem remarkably civil.
What This Means for Her Future Music
If history is any indication, Billie’s next projects will continue to be a reflection of her heart. She’s currently in a space where she’s exploring her identity more freely than ever before. Whether she’s dating a famous musician or someone totally out of the spotlight, she’s made it clear that she’s the one in control of the narrative now.
The speculation around who did Billie Eilish date will likely never stop. It's part of the territory. But for Billie, these relationships aren't just headlines; they're the raw material for her art.
How to approach the rumors
When you see a new "Billie Eilish Boyfriend/Girlfriend" headline, keep a few things in mind. First, Billie is a master of deflection. She might be joking. Second, "sources" aren't always reliable. And third, look at the lyrics. That’s where the real truth usually hides.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the Documentary: If you want the most honest look at her early dating life, The World’s a Little Blurry is essential viewing.
- Listen to "LUNCH" and "WILDFLOWER": These tracks from her latest album offer the most current insight into her feelings on love and friendship-turned-romance.
- Respect the Boundaries: Billie has been vocal about how public scrutiny affects her mental health. Following her lead on what she chooses to share—and what she doesn't—is the best way to support her as an artist.
- Follow Official Reps: For actual confirmation of breakups or new relationships, wait for statements from her team rather than relying on "blind items" from gossip accounts.