Billy Porter has a few words for those questioning him playing James Baldwin in upcoming biopic
expressing skepticism at him taking on the role.Porter said everyone has an opinion but that wasn’t going to deter him.“First and foremost, the internet has created a space where it’s made people think that their opinion matters at all,” Porter said. “I am 53 years old and I’ve dedicated my life to my art and my craft.
Question me at your own peril.”He continued, “Call it whatever you want, arrogant… I’ve worked hard for this, and my mantra — and I say it all the time — I do not now, nor will I ever, adjudicate my life or humanity in sound bites on social media.
I’m going to focus on the work — that’s all I can do. People have been doubting me my whole life. This ain’t nothing new.”Last week, the Hollywood Reporter broke news about Porter working on the biopic of the late, queer writer and civil rights activist.
Porter will co-write the script alongside Dan McCabe. The movie will be based on David Leeming’s 1994 book James Baldwin: A Biography.Porter has long been a fan of Baldwin’s.
