“THAT’S ALL THE PROOF I NEED.” Billie Eilish refuses to hand over her $8M LA mansion to the Tongva tribe, saying a spirit named “Dave” told her through an ouija board that her home was built on normal land — not ancestral territory.

The singer says she and several non-binary friends contacted the spirit at her house, and the message convinced her the tribe’s claims were false.

Her statement has now sparked intense backlash online, with many accusing her of disrespecting Indigenous history and spreading misinformation.

By Entertainment & Culture Desk – February 8, 2026

LOS ANGELES – In a bizarre twist that has dominated social media and entertainment headlines, Grammy-winning singer Billie Eilish has publicly refused to relinquish her multimillion-dollar Los Angeles mansion to the Tongva tribe, claiming supernatural guidance from a spirit named “Dave” via an Ouija board session. The 24-year-old pop star’s comments, first shared in a now-viral TikTok clip and later amplified in interviews, have ignited widespread outrage, accusations of cultural insensitivity, and heated debates about celebrity hypocrisy, Indigenous land rights, and the limits of personal belief.

The controversy traces back to Eilish’s acceptance speech at the 2026 Grammy Awards, where she wore an “ICE OUT” pin and declared, “No one is illegal on stolen land,” in a pointed critique of U.S. immigration enforcement. The remark drew applause from supporters but prompted immediate scrutiny from critics who highlighted that Eilish’s $8 million Highland Park estate—purchased in 2021—sits on land historically considered ancestral territory of the Tongva (also known as Gabrielino) people, the Indigenous inhabitants of the greater Los Angeles Basin before Spanish colonization.

In the days following the Grammys, Tongva representatives issued a measured statement acknowledging the location of her home on their ancestral lands and expressing hope for more explicit recognition when public figures invoke “stolen land” rhetoric. The tribe emphasized that Eilish had not contacted them directly about the property or offered any form of restitution or dialogue.

Rather than engaging with the historical claim, Eilish doubled down in a follow-up video posted to her personal social channels. In the clip, she described hosting a casual Ouija board session at her home with “several non-binary friends” who shared her interest in the occult. According to Eilish, the planchette moved to spell out the name “Dave,” a spirit who allegedly assured her that the land beneath her mansion was “just a normal field” with no ancestral significance.

“That’s all the proof I need,” Eilish stated in the video, laughing lightly as she held up the Ouija board. “We asked straight up if this was Tongva land or sacred ground or whatever, and Dave was like, ‘Nah, it’s normal land. Built on nothing special.’ So yeah, I’m keeping my house. Sorry not sorry.”

The singer went on to say the session felt “legit” and that the spirit’s message aligned with her own research—or lack thereof—into local Indigenous history. “I’m not trying to disrespect anyone,” she added. “I just believe what the spirits tell me. Dave seemed chill and honest.”

The backlash was swift and severe. Indigenous activists, historians, and thousands of online commentators condemned the remarks as flippant, disrespectful, and dangerously dismissive of documented history. The Tongva people, whose territory once spanned much of present-day Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino counties, have long advocated for recognition of their displacement through missions, ranchos, and urban development. Archaeological evidence, oral histories, and land-title records confirm extensive pre-colonial presence in areas now including Highland Park.

“Using a Ouija board to deny Indigenous land claims is not just ignorant—it’s a form of erasure wrapped in spiritual cosplay,” said Julia Martinez, a Tongva descendant and cultural educator, in a widely shared X thread. “Our people were forcibly removed, our villages destroyed, our languages suppressed. A ghost named Dave does not rewrite that.”

Social media erupted with memes mocking Eilish’s reliance on “Dave” as evidence, while others accused her of hypocrisy: championing social justice causes while rejecting accountability on land issues tied to her own wealth. Hashtags like #BillieDave, #OuijaGate, and #ReturnTheLand trended globally, amassing millions of views. Change.org petitions calling for Eilish to donate the property—or at least a portion of its value—to Tongva community initiatives gained tens of thousands of signatures within days.

Eilish’s representatives issued a brief statement clarifying that the Ouija board anecdote was “meant as lighthearted personal belief” and not a formal rebuttal to Indigenous claims. “Billie respects Native histories and supports land-back efforts in principle,” the statement read. “She has reached out to Tongva representatives privately to discuss meaningful support.” No details on the outreach or any proposed actions were provided.

Critics argue the damage is already done. Legal experts note that modern property titles in California stem from Spanish and Mexican grants, followed by U.S. annexation—processes rooted in colonial dispossession. No U.S. court has ever upheld a broad “return” of private land to unrecognized tribes like the Tongva, who lack federal recognition despite ongoing advocacy. Yet symbolic gestures—donations, acknowledgments, or partnerships—have become common among celebrities facing similar scrutiny.

The incident highlights broader tensions around “land acknowledgment” culture in Hollywood. Many performers routinely include territorial statements in speeches or bios, yet few face direct pressure over personal real estate. Eilish’s case stands out due to the Ouija board element, which many see as trivializing a serious historical injustice.

As the story continues to unfold, Eilish has gone quiet on social media, with her team declining further comment. The Tongva tribe has reiterated its call for dialogue rather than confrontation, stating: “We seek recognition and partnership, not conflict. Public figures have a platform—use it responsibly.”

Whether “Dave” was a genuine spirit, a subconscious manipulation of the planchette, or simply a joke gone wrong, one thing is clear: Billie Eilish’s supernatural defense has turned a routine celebrity-property story into a flashpoint for debates on privilege, history, belief, and accountability. In an era where stars are held to their words, Eilish’s “proof” may prove far more costly than any mansion.