An Australian activist has claimed singer Billie Eilish got him “deported” after posting online about plans to “occupy” her California home—an allegation that has not been independently verified and for which no evidence has been provided linking the decision to Eilish or her representatives.
Drew Pavlou, 26, alleged in a series of posts on X that U.S. authorities barred him from entering the country after he posted online about moving into Eilish’s Malibu mansion following comments she made at the Grammy Awards. Pavlou speculated that Eilish’s legal team may have contacted immigration officials, a claim for which he offered no proof. A community note added to one of his posts stated that he was not deported but denied entry, a distinction under U.S. immigration law. Newsweek has contacted representatives for Eilish and the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
Why It Matters
Pavlou’s claims reflect a growing trend of activists and self‑styled performance artists using provocative stunts and unverified allegations to drive viral engagement, raising questions about how online outrage can shape—and distort—public understanding of real‑world events.
What To Know
In her speech at the 68th Grammy Awards, Eilish said, “No one is illegal on stolen land,” adding, “It’s really hard to know what to say and what to do right now… we need to keep speaking up and keep protesting. Our voices really do matter.”
These remarks attracted criticism, and some social media users alleged that Eilish lives on land once belonging to the Tongva tribe. The tribe has deep historical ties to the Los Angeles area, but is not recognized by the federal government.
The San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians Gabrieleno Tongva previously told Newsweek, “We appreciate the opportunity to provide clarity regarding the recent comments made by Billie Eilish. As the First People of the greater Los Angeles basin, we do understand that her home is situated in our ancestral land.”
Following Eilish’s speech, Pavlou, who describes himself as a “performance artist” attempted to crowdfund an effort to move into her mansion.
In a post on X on February 2, he wrote, “Exciting news: I’ve decided to move into Billie Eilish’s $6 million Malibu beachfront mansion because no human being is illegal on stolen land. Thank you Billie for your generosity.”
Then in a post on February 15, Pavlou wrote “Billie Eilish got me deported from the US – I think her legal team contacted DHS I spent 30 hours at LAX immigration trying to explain that my s*** posts were just a joke and that I didn’t actually plan to personally move into her mansion.”
“Honestly most of the agents were nice and laughed at the idea but there was nothing I could do, maybe evil leftists are still in charge of sections of the bureaucracy I guess some people are in fact actually illegal on stolen land,” Pavlou wrote.
The incident has attracted widespread attention online. Pavlou’s February 15 post has been viewed over 14 million times, with Elon Musk responding, “Most ironic outcome is most likely.”
Pavlou said in his post, “Honestly I am legitimately one of the most misunderstood theorists/artists of the 21st century.”
He is known for criticizing the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party. In May of 2020, he was suspended from the University of Queensland for two years. The university alleged 11 instances of misconduct.
He returned to the University in early 2021. In December of 2021, he launched a political party named the Drew Pavlou Democratic Alliance and ran for the Australian Senate in the 2022 Australian federal election, but lost.
His posts have received a significant amount of criticism, with some social media users accusing him of not being truthful and of sharing these posts for attention.
What People Are Saying
Drew Pavlou, in a post on X: “Honestly amazing performance art, I somehow managed to get Billie Eilish and American liberals to endorse border control and deportations The pain was worth it for the meme.”
What Happens Next
Eilish has not publicly responded as of reporting.
