Billy Porter has been killing it on the red carpet this awards season—turning out look after look and becoming a style icon in the process. Of course, this isn’t anything new if you’ve followed the Pose star’s career. He’s always been a fashion trailblazer. Just last year he wore a custom-made Christian Siriano tuxedo dress to the 2019 Oscars—a dress he’ll wear again on his upcoming appearance on Sesame Street.
Which has some people (read: trolls) in a tizzy. According to Page Six, a petition is being circulated calling for Sesame Street to pull Porter’s episode. “Do you approve of your taxpayer dollars being used to promote the radical LGBTQ agenda?” raged one critic, per Page Six. The petition itself reportedly accuses Sesame Street of trying to “sexualize children using drag queens” (which…doesn’t even make sense).
But Billy Porter isn’t sweating any of the criticism. “If you don’t like it, don’t watch it,” he told Page Six.
He continued, “Like, what about me singing with a penguin [on the show] has anything to do with what I’m doing in my bedroom?” and later added, “The really interesting thing for me is that that’s what it’s all about when it comes to LGBTQ people — the first thing everyone wants to talk about is how we having sex…Stay out of my bedroom and you will be fine—that is none of your business.”
Couldn’t have said it better myself, TBH. I’m very happy Porter isn’t paying this any mind. He’s too perfect and iconic to be bothered. The man is one trophy away to becoming an EGOT, for crying out loud (the only one missing is an Oscar). Literally if some tries to come for him again he can just cackle and point to his Emmy. I, for one, can’t wait to see him rock this dress again on Sesame Street. Give me all the style inspo.
