Billy Porter is not holding back when it comes to his thoughts on Anna Wintour and Harry Styles. The recent cover of Vogue magazine featuring Styles in a dress has sparked a conversation, and Porter is at the forefront. In a candid interview, Porter revealed that he had spoken to Wintour months before the cover was released, but was disappointed by her response. He shared, “That b**** 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 believes that Vogue should use its power to uplift the voices of those leading the de-gendering of fashion movement. He expressed his frustration by stating, “Six months later, Harry Styles is the first man on the cover.”
Porter wants to make it clear that he doesn’t blame Styles for the decision, acknowledging that it’s not his fault for fitting into the industry’s standards. Instead, he calls out the gatekeepers who make these choices. Porter believes that Styles was chosen because he is white and straight, and that using the non-binary community to elevate oneself is not acceptable. He emphasized, “You haven’t had to sacrifice anything.”
This isn’t the first time Porter has spoken out about the Vogue cover. In 2021, he expressed his disappointment, saying, “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.” Porter later apologized for mentioning Styles, clarifying that his intention was to address the systems of oppression and erasure of people of color in the industry.
Despite his criticism, Porter wants to make it clear that he has no ill will towards Styles. During an interview on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, he apologized to Styles, saying, “I’m sorry, Harry. I didn’t mean no harm. I’m a gay man. We like Harry. He’s cute.”
It’s clear that Porter is passionate about advocating for inclusivity and representation in the fashion industry. His outspokenness serves as a reminder that there is still work to be done to ensure that all voices are heard and celebrated.
