Billy Porter Calls Out Anna Wintour Over Harry Styles’ Vogue Cover

Billy Porter is direct in his speech.

More than two years after being the first guy to appear only on the cover of Vogue, the star of Pose is thinking back on the magazine’s decision, adding that he believes the “As It Was” singer was selected for the cover because he is “white and straight.”

Porter stated, “It doesn’t feel good to me,” in an interview with The Telegraph on August 14. “You’re utilizing my community to advance your career, or your group is doing so. You didn’t have to make any sacrifices.

The Kinky Boots actor, who is well-recognized for his gender-neutral fashion choices, continued by revealing that he spoke with Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour months before the publication of the cover.

Porter said, “That bitch asked me at the end, ‘How can we do better?'” And since I was caught off guard, I failed to say what I should have.

Billy Porter is direct in his speech.

The 53-year-old thought he ought to have persuaded Wintour and her colleagues to “use your power as Vogue to uplift the voices of the leaders of this de-gendering of fashion movement.”

Porter remarked that Harry Styles was the first male on the cover “six months later.”

The Emmy winner emphasized that he doesn’t hold the One Direction member responsible for getting the cover.

“It’s not Harry Styles’ fault that he just so happens to be white, cute, and straight and fit into the infrastructure that way,” he remarked. “I call the gatekeepers,” you say.

Porter has already stated that he views Vogue’s decision as an instance of the erasure of people of color. This isn’t the first time Porter has shared his opinions on the magazine’s choice.

“I feel like the fashion industry has accepted me because they have to,” he said to The Sunday Times in October 2021. I started the discourse about non-binary fashion, but Vogue still featured Harry Styles, a straight, white male, in a dress on their cover for the first time, so I’m not completely convinced. Here’s why.

Billy Porter is direct in his speech.

Porter continued, “I’m not dragging Harry Styles, but he is the one you’re going to try and use to represent this new conversation? “pointing out that the 29-year-old himself wasn’t the problem. He does it because it’s the right thing, and he doesn’t care. For me, this is politics. This is who I am.

The Tony winner explained his position the following month, saying his viewpoint is “not about” Styles.

In an episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert from November 2021, he asserted, “The conversation is deeper than that.” “It’s about how people of color who contribute to culture are marginalized and subject to oppressive structures. There is a lot to unpack there. I’m willing to discuss it without the Internet’s drag-and-cancel culture because I don’t judge my life or humanity in soundbites now and never will.

Finally, he said, “I’m sorry, Harry. I had no malicious intent. A gay man, I am. Harry is cute, and we like him.

SOURCE – (Enews)