What is Billy Porter's problem with Harry Styles? Actor reiterates past criticism two years after apology
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Billy Porter has directed his attention toward Anna Wintour and Harry Styles, following the Vogue magazine cover featuring Styles in a dress.
In a recent interview, Porter openly shared his sentiments regarding Styles' groundbreaking appearance as the first solo male featured on the iconic fashion magazine's cover. Interestingly, Porter's perspective is colored by prior conversations he had with Wintour.
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Why did Billy Porter slam Harry Styles?
"That b***h 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," Porter told The Sunday Times. Porter added what he should have said in response was: "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.
Following Vogue's publication of its December 2020 issue, spotlighting Styles in a lace dress on the cover, Porter expressed his sentiment that his own influence contributed to the growing trend of men embracing traditionally feminine attire.
Porter asserted that he had played a significant role in igniting discussions around gender-fluid fashion. He also criticized the magazine for selecting Styles, a "straight white man," as the inaugural cover star to wear a dress.
Billy Porter claimed Harry Styles was selected because he was 'white and straight'
Porter's remarks were aimed at Wintour and he explained he was not criticizing Styles. "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," he said.
He noted that Styles was "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."
This isn't the first instance where Porter has voiced his thoughts publicly regarding the December 2020 Vogue cover featuring the former One-Direction band member. Back in 2021, Porter told the Sunday Times, "I feel like the fashion industry has accepted me because they have to."
"I created the conversation [about nonbinary fashion] and yet Vogue still put Harry Styles, a straight white man, in a dress on their cover for the first time. I’m not dragging Harry Styles, but… He doesn’t care, he’s just doing it because it’s the thing to do. This is politics for me. This is my life."
Porter later apologized for mentioning Styles, saying the conversation was not about him but 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," he said. "I’m a gay man. We like Harry. He’s cute."
