Billy Porter breaks down his issue with Harry Styles’ Vogue cover: ‘Using my community’
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In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Billy Porter, the acclaimed actor and Tony award-winning musical theatre star, opened up about his issue with Harry Styles wearing a dress on the cover of Vogue. Styles made headlines in 2020 when he appeared on the magazine’s cover in a lace-trimmed Gucci dress, becoming the first man to do so solo. While many praised Styles for pushing gender boundaries in fashion, Porter felt differently.
Porter, who had previously turned heads at the 2019 Oscars when he wore a black velvet tuxedo gown, expressed his frustration with Vogue’s decision to feature Styles on their cover. He stated, “I created the conversation, and yet Vogue still put Harry Styles, a straight white man, in a dress on their cover for the first time.” Porter believed that as an artist who had already challenged gender norms in fashion, it was disheartening to see someone else receive recognition for it.
However, Porter faced backlash from both Styles’ fans and others who criticized him for claiming he had spearheaded the gender-fluid fashion movement as a cisgender man. Some argued that his comments erased the contributions of BIPOC and transgender individuals who had long been pushing for inclusivity in fashion.
While Porter later apologized to Styles by sending him flowers and clarifying that the conversation was not about him personally, he recently shed more light on why he was so bothered by the Vogue cover. He revealed that Vogue editor Anna Wintour had asked him how the magazine could “do better” before the cover was released.
In a Q&A session with Vogue’s staff, Porter was taken aback by Wintour’s question and missed the opportunity to express his concerns fully. He now wishes he had asked Wintour to uplift the voices of leaders in the de-gendering fashion movement. Porter believes that featuring Styles on the cover was a way for the magazine to use his community for their own benefit without having to make any sacrifices themselves.
Porter emphasized that it was not Styles’ fault for being white, cute, straight, and fitting into the existing fashion industry structure. However, he felt that the cover perpetuated the idea that non-binary representation was simply a trend, rather than a meaningful and ongoing movement. Porter expressed his disappointment in seeing his community being used to elevate others without any real commitment to inclusivity.
This recent controversy comes at a challenging time for Porter, who revealed that he has had to sell his house due to the ongoing actors’ strike in Hollywood. The strike has halted his projects and left him uncertain about when he will be able to return to work. Porter’s candid admission highlights the financial struggles many artists face until they achieve financial stability in the industry.
While Porter’s comments sparked debate and criticism, they also shed light on the complexities of representation and inclusivity in the fashion world. It serves as a reminder that true progress requires more than just surface-level gestures and that marginalized communities should be given meaningful opportunities to shape and lead movements towards inclusivity.
As the conversation around gender fluidity continues to evolve, it is essential for all voices to be heard and for the fashion industry to actively support and uplift those who have been at the forefront of challenging traditional norms. Only then can we truly move towards a future where diversity and inclusivity are celebrated and embraced by all.
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