Billy Porter hits out at Harry Styles and Anna Wintour AGAIN… three years after singer’s gender-neutral Vogue cover: ‘It doesn’t feel good to me’
Billy Porter caused a stir when he criticised Harry Styles after the singer made history as the first solo male cover star of US Vogue in November 2020.
The TV star had slammed Vogue’s decision to use a ‘straight, white male’ in their first gender-neutral cover shoot and indicated that Harry was only wearing a dress because it was ‘the thing to do.’
And despite apologising to Styles a year later, the actor, 53, has now revealed he has more to say.
Speaking in a new interview with the Telegraph, Billy once again explained his problem: ‘Harry is white and he’s straight. That’s why he’s on the cover.
‘Non-binary blah blah blah blah. No. It doesn’t feel good to me.
Outspoken: Billy Porter has once again criticised Harry Styles after the singer made history as the first solo male cover star of US Vogue in November 2020
Momentous: The TV star has slammed Vogue’s decision to use a ‘straight, white male’ in their first gender-neutral cover shoot and indicated that Harry was only wearing a dress because it was ‘the thing to do’
‘You’re using my community – or your people are using my community – to elevate you. You haven’t had to sacrifice anything.’
But it’s not all Harry’s fault, Billy accepts.
This time, he’s brought Vogue editor Anna Wintour into the mix: ‘It’s not Harry Styles’s fault that he happens to be white and cute and straight and fit into the infrastructure that way … I call out the gatekeepers.’
The Pose actor admitted he had talked to Wintour months before the cover with the former One Direction member was released, but was taken aback by the magazine’s editor.
‘That b—- said to me at the end, “How can we do better?” And I was so taken off guard that I didn’t say what I should have said…’, Billy said.
He continued: ‘Use your power as Vogue to uplift the voices of the leaders of this de-gendering of fashion movement … Six months later, Harry Styles is the first man on the cover.’
In November 2021, during an appearance on Late Night With Stephen Colbert Billy said sorry to the As It Was hitmaker.
‘The first thing I wanna say is, Harry Styles, I apologize to you for having your name in my mouth. It’s not about you. The conversation is not about you,’ said Billy.
Under fire: Despite apologising to Styles a year later , the actor, 53, has now revealed he has more to say – now hitting out at Vogue editor Anna Wintour
Hitting out: Speaking in a new interview with the Telegraph , Billy once again explained his problem: ‘Harry is white and he’s straight. That’s why he’s on the cover (pictured in a Christian Siriano tuxedo dress at the 2019 Oscars)
Reasons: ‘You’re using my community – or your people are using my community – to elevate you. You haven’t had to sacrifice anything’
Stephen explained, ‘For the people who don’t know, Harry Styles was the first man to appear on the cover of Vogue —’
‘In a dress,’ Billy finished.
The Emmy Award winner went on to say, ‘And so the conversation is actually deeper than that. It is about the systems of oppression and erasure of people of color who contribute to the culture.’
‘Now that’s a lot to unpack. I’m willing to unpack it sans the dragging and cancel culture of the internet because I do not now nor will not ever adjudicate my life or humanity in sound bites on social media.
‘So when you are ready to have the real conversation, call a b*tch.’
Billy then began fanning himself with the Pride fan that he brought for his appearance and said, ‘I’m ready to have it and I’m sorry, Harry. I didn’t mean no harm.’
‘I’m a gay man, We like Harry, he’s cute,’ he added.
The Pose star also said: ‘Apparently, I’m famous now and it was a slow news day.’
Billy’s comments were met with significant backlash on social media with some users accusing him of ‘gatekeeping non-binary fashion’ and bisexual Walking Dead star Daniel Newman tweeting that his remarks were ‘GROSS & sad.’
When Stephen asked Billy if he was surprised that the comment ‘blew up the way it did,’ the Tony Award winner said, ‘I am surprised because there are so many things that are important on this earth to be talking about. It’s just weird.’
Apologising: In November 2021, during an appearance on Late Night With Stephen Colbert Billy said sorry to the As It Was hitmaker
Billy, was the first gay black man to win a lead acting Emmy for his portrayal of Pray Tell in Pose, about the drag ball culture of Eighties New York, went on to insist that he ‘personally changed the game’ for a wave of men embracing skirts and dresses as part of their style.
The singer and actor famously wore a custom-made Christian Siriano tuxedo dress to the 2019 Oscars and donned a winged Cleopatra gold bodysuit to the Met Gala the same year.
Meanwhile, Harry’s Vogue headlines sparked a debate when it was released, with right-wing commentator Candace Owens hitting headlines by blasting the styling and the ‘steady feminization of our men’, calling for society to ‘bring back manly men’.
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