Billy Porter Slams Harry Styles’ Vogue Cover Again: “You’re Using My Community”

Billy Porter has long been candid and direct with his feelings.

Case in point, his less-than-endorsing response to Harry Styles snagging a Vogue cover while wearing a dress.

The Emmy Award-winning ‘Pose’ star has long demonstrated a penchant for pushing the boundaries of gender expression – from his red-carpet looks to his music to his acting roles (such as ‘Cinderella,’ in which he starred as the Fairy Godmother).

Shortly after Styles’ issue hit newsstands, Porter was quizzed on his take and didn’t hold back about his disapproval.

Now, he’s been asked again, and – true to form – he was not bridled.

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Explaining in an interview with The Telegraph, that he sent Styles flowers following original remarks “as an apology”, Porter went on to add additional context to the matter.

Sharing that the head of the publication had previously asked him, during a corporate Q&A, about ways in which “we can do better.” He says of his response and the eventual outcome:

“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.”

Porter added:

“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 excerpt concluded:

Porter doesn’t claim to be “the first” to push gender stereotypes in culture. “I know David Bowie existed, I know Sylvester existed.”

Styles, however, 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. You’re using my community – or your people are using my community – to elevate you. You haven’t had to sacrifice anything.”

As ever, what are…