Singer Finneas (aka Billie Eilish’s brother and frequent collaborator) just caught the world’s attention after kissing his guitarist, Ricky Gourmet, during a live show in Brooklyn, New York.

Fans are generally being supportive, but many people are… reacting with choice words. A lot of folks are accusing Finneas of queerbaiting, bringing up discourse about whether real people can queerbait with their own actions, and bringing his sister into the mix.

“The queerbaiting… like sister like brother,” wrote one commenter. “Aw… siblings that gaybait together stay together,” commented another.

For those who don’t know, queerbaiting refers to when creators of fictional shows and media hint at their characters being LGBTQ+ without actually bothering to depict queer romance. This can be disappointing and hurtful to LGBTQ+ fans, who just want to see themselves represented and not toyed with in the media.

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Finneas has defended himself and Eilish from these accusations in the past, pointing out how they’re real people who can choose to be as out with their sexuality as they wish, and that it isn’t anyone’s business but theirs. “I got to watch the entire internet slam my sister for queer-baiting for an entire year when in reality, you were forcing her to label and out herself,” he wrote in a viral TikTok comment earlier this year.

This is especially true, seeing as Eilish accused a reporter off outing her at a red carpet event at the end of 2023.

Now, fans of Finneas and Eilish are clapping back at the haters. “A real person cannot queerbait hope this helps,” quipped one commenter. “How does one queerbait as a queer person?” asked another.

Meanwhile, other fans are busy thirsting over Finneas and Gourmet’s kiss.

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