Billy Porter, the iconic star of the TV show Pose, recently opened up about his feelings towards Harry Styles’ historic Vogue cover. In a conversation with The Telegraph, Porter expressed his dissatisfaction with Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of Vogue, for choosing Styles as the first man to grace the cover of the renowned fashion magazine.
Porter revealed that a few months before the cover was released, he had a Q&A session with Wintour in front of the Condé Nast staff. However, he regretted not speaking up and conveying his true thoughts during that encounter. He expressed his frustration with the missed opportunity, stating that he should have told Wintour to use her power as Vogue’s editor-in-chief to uplift the voices of the leaders driving the de-gendering of fashion movement. Instead, six months later, Harry Styles became the first man to cover Vogue.
Porter clarified that his issue was not with Styles himself. He acknowledged that Styles was not at fault for being a white, cute, straight man who fit into the industry’s existing infrastructure. Rather, he called out the gatekeepers within the fashion world who, in his opinion, exploit marginalized communities to elevate themselves without making any sacrifices.
The Tony-winning actor further argued that Styles’ selection for the cover was based on his white, straight identity, rather than embracing the non-binary movement and all its nuances. Porter emphasized that using his community simply to boost Styles’ popularity didn’t sit well with him. He believed it was unfair that he and others from marginalized communities had to fight for acceptance and visibility, while Styles effortlessly gained recognition without having to face similar struggles.
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This is not the first time Porter has addressed his concerns about Styles’ Vogue cover. In an interview with The Sunday Times in October 2021, he expressed his belief that the fashion industry only accepted him because they had to after he initiated conversations about non-binary fashion. Yet, even after breaking barriers and challenging norms, Styles still received the coveted Vogue cover.
Porter clarified that he wasn’t trying to attack Styles personally, but rather the decision to use him as the representative of a new conversation about gender and fashion. In Porter’s eyes, Styles was simply doing what was trendy, without fully understanding the political and personal significance of the movement. Porter’s own journey towards acceptance and self-expression has been a lifelong battle, and he believes that Styles’ privileged position fails to recognize that struggle.
The Hollywood Reporter reached out to representatives for Porter, highlighting the significance of his words and the conversation it has generated within the industry.
