Billie Eilish missed MTV Video Music Awards due to Russia gig

Billie Eilish was unable to collect her three MTV Video Music Awards as she was on her way to Russia.
The ‘Bad Guy’ hitmaker was a big winner on the night, nabbing the fan-voted Best New Artist, PUSH Artist of the Year and Editing prizes, beating the likes of Lizzo and H.E.R. to the first two accolades, and she admitted it broke her heart not to be there in person to accept her statuettes.
On winning the PUSH award, she said: "I just wanted to thank you guys so much for making me MTV’s PUSH artist of the year. Love you."
And in another pre-recorded video message aired at the star-studded ceremony in New Jersey on Monday night (26.08.19) for Best New Artist, Billie explained: "Unfortunately I’m on tour right now, actually in Russia, so I cannot come, which breaks my heart.
"I want to thank my fans because you guys are the reason that anybody cares about me at all.
"So thank you, thank you thank you, I love you guys."
Billie was travelling to Moscow where she will perform at the city’s Megasport Arena this evening (27.08.19).
Meanwhile, the 17-year-old pop phenomenon – who wowed crowds at Reading and Leeds festival in the UK at the weekend – recently spoke about how being "strong-willed" has helped her to avoid being "used and manipulated" in the music industry.
The ‘Bury a Friend’ singer opened up about her first meeting with music management when she was just 13 years old, and recalled people saying she is "going to be used" in the industry and look at her as if to say she was going to have a "horrible career".
She said: "There has been a whole world of young, especially female artists, and every artist (not just young) being used and manipulated by the stereotypical label or industry.
"There’s kind of this weird name on everything now where it’s like, people expect that.
"I remember the first time I had any sort of meeting with a label or management, I was 13. I think the only people that didn’t look at me like I was going to have a horrible career were the people that I ended up working with. Everyone was just like, ‘Oh, you’re 13, yikes, you’re going to be used,’ and this and that.
"And I am like, ‘Yo, y’all are the people that would use me in the situation you are talking about.’ So, I don’t know what that is supposed to mean. The only people who didn’t say that s**t were the people that I felt an energy and connection with."