Billy Porter criticises Harry Styles’ ‘Vogue’ cover for “using” LGBTQ+ community
Billy Porter has reopened the discussion around Harry Styles‘ 2020 Vogue cover, insisting that it was “using” his LGBTQ+ community after the former One Direction star appeared on the iconic title in a dress.Back in December 2020, Styles made history as US Vogue’s first-ever male solo cover star where he was pictured wearing a Gucci dress and skirt.Porter, however, felt that Styles was not the right figure to represent the magazine’s inclusive message.
Expressing his objection to the cover, the singer, actor and broadway star told The Times: “I created the conversation [about non-binary fashion] and yet Vogue still put Harry Styles, a straight white man, in a dress on their cover for the first time.Harry Styles photographed by Tyler Mitchell and styled by Camilla Nickerson for Vogue US, December Issue 2020.
This makes him the first man to grace the cover of American Vogue solo. – I pic.twitter.com/b9MPmL4haO— IMONATION (@THEIMONATION) November 13, 2020Porter later extended a public apology to Styles during an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, saying: “Harry Styles, I apologise to you for having your name in my mouth.“It’s not about you.
The conversation is not about you.”The Pose star said that the conversation is “deeper than that”, explaining that “it is about the systems of oppression and erasure of people of colour who contribute to the culture”.Now, Porter has elaborated on his feelings around the Vogue cover, telling The Telegraph in a new interview that Styles secured the honour of being the title’s first male cover because he’s “white and he’s straight”.Porter emphasised that his problem isn’t with Styles personally, having sent him flowers “as an apology” after he first spoke out. “It’s not Harry.
