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Actor Billy Porter has issued a public apology to singer Harry Styles over a dust-up involving Styles’ appearance on the cover of Vogue wearing a dress.
Styles graced the cover of the magazine in October, prompting Porter–known for also bending fashion gender lines–to criticize the photo.
“I feel like the fashion industry has accepted me because they have to,” Porter told The Sunday Times in October. “I’m not necessarily convinced and here is why. I created the conversation [about genderfluid fashion] and yet Vogue still put Harry Styles, a straight white man, in a dress on their cover for the first time.”
The remarks invited further criticism of both Porter and Styles at the time.
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Now Porter has clarified his sentiments. In an interview with Stephen Colbert, the Pose star explained his feelings, and offered an apology to Styles.
“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,” he said. “The conversation is actually deeper than that. It’s about the systems of oppression and erasure of people of color who contribute to the culture.”
“I’m sorry, Harry. I didn’t mean no harm. I’m a gay man. We like Harry, he’s cute,” Porter added.
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Porter also blamed a “slow news day” for the story getting traction, and said he found the backlash to the criticism “weird.”
“Clothes are there to have fun with and experiment with and play with,” Porter explained. “What’s really exciting is that all of these lines are just kind of crumbling away. There’s so much joy to be had in playing with clothes. I’ve never really thought too much about what it means – it just becomes this extended part of creating something.”
In addition to becoming a Tony and Emmy award-winning star, Billy Porter has become a fashion icon for his penchant for wearing dresses to major awards shows. He’s said he wants to expand the conversations around masculine and feminine dress, and enjoys wearing dresses designed for men as a form of political protest. He has described himself as a “walking piece of political art.”
ZzBomb
On 1 side I understand where Porter is coming from.
But on another side I’m asking myself: “Is mimicry no longer the greatest form of flattery?”
Either way at the end of the day, good on both of them wish them continued success.
CatholicXXX
he probably received a lot of hate mail and death threats.
Hank31
Why is anyone listening to that crossdresser?
Den
Well, for one thing, what he says is a whole lot more entertaining than your comments.
He has the awards to demonstrate a position in his field that you likely will never have. So there is that as well. Personally I thought his comments were foolish and poorly thought out, but not nearly as much as yours.
jw8890
We get enough hate outside of the community, we don’t need your toxicity poisoning us inside it as well. Every comment you make comes across as bitter. stop spreading hate!
Cam
Awww, the right wing troll account that always attacks LGBTQ people and defends bigots has something to say.
Den
Seems to me that the first to attract major media attention for cross dressing were David Bowie and Brian Eno; in publicity and album covers something like 40+ years ago. But popular culture has a short memory. And thought there was a tradition of flamboyant cross dressing the the black community stretching back generations, the same thing existed in the white community as evidenced by the drag clubs of old like Finocchio’s. A straight nightclub, it started having drag shows in the mid 1930’s.
the reason Vogue had Styles on their cover is because he is a whole lot better looking than Porter, though Porter is certainly more stylish.
inbama
Ah, those innocent days when men would cross-dress and not demand to be referred to as “they.”
dhmonarch89
he’s never once looked good in a dress- maybe that’s why Vogue didn’t want him.
Paulie P
As the kids say.. yesssssssssss… and Hey Bill maybe it is that Harry looks comfortable in that fashion and you look like someone please see me. Please notice me. Its too forced.
squinney7007
Thank you.
madtown52761
I’m a huge fan of Billy Porter, but I think he was wrong in this instance. Yes he may have started a conversation by wearing (traditionally) women’s clothing in public, in his every day life, outside of a drag context. That should get him a cover story on Time magazine, which is about news and new conversations. Vogue isn’t there to talk about who started the trend, they just want to sell magazines. And which cover will sell more magazines? One with Billy Porter in a dress or one with harry styles in a dress? Love Billy, but Harry did what Vogue needed him to do. He gave them an edgy, Twitter-worthy cover. Let’s face it, he’s the bigger star. Long live Billy, tho!
Paulie P
For those that don’t know… when Porter was on Broadway in Kinky Boots his style of dress was English Dandy. Suits, shirts. ties, hats etc… so his needing to be noticed has always been there but like I said above.. its forced and not natural. If he was less costumey and more easy he may spread his message easier.
squinney7007
OMG how funny. Billy Porter has no “style”. When he puts on those hideous costumes he calls dresses he is a complete train wreck. No style and a terrible actor. Harry looks 100 times better in a fashionable dress, and yes, Harry DOES have style. Next!
Cam
Harry Stiles troll alert
Matthewnow
Porter has always been an attention whore. Bitch, bitch, bitch about everything. Then drops even lower and plays the race card. As I have already said, he diminishes all of us. Tired. Old. Queen.
Jim
Poor Billy.
Harry has talent and all Billy has is attitude.
Cam
Wow, you switched from your Hank31 name back over to this one so you could bag on Porter twice? Looks like someone is triggered!
Cam
This isn’t about Porter “Attacking Stiles”, Porter’s comments were made to Vogue and other fashion industry and entertainment outlets.
Basically saying “Here you go jumping on the bandwagon, but not really because you’re doing it with a straight guy on the cover.
It would be like ELLE Magazine talking about how inclusive they are because they interviewed George Clooney and during the interview asked him about which of his costars was the handsomest.
I get where Porter was coming from on it.
GreekKeys
“Jealousy is a very ugly thing, Dorothy. And so are you in anything backless.”