Billy Porter, an American actor has shared his two cents on Harry Styles’ 2020 Vogue cover more than two years after the singer-turned-actor became the first man to appear solo on the cover of the magazine.
Now in an interview with The Telegraph, the Pose star has reflected on the publication’s choice, noting that he felt the ‘As It Was’ singer—who was photographed in a full-length gown—landed the cover because he is ‘white’ and ‘straight’.
“It doesn’t feel good to me. You’re using my community — or your people are using my community — to elevate you. You haven’t had to sacrifice anything,” he said.
Porter added that before the cover’s drop, editor-in-chief Anna Wintour had interviewed him, asking for direction in which to lead Vogue. “That bitch 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,” he said.
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Porter revealed that he had urged Wintour to ‘use the power as Vogue to uplift the voices of the leaders of this de-gendering of fashion movement and six months later, Harry Styles is the first man on the cover.
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Porter has previously expressed his dislike of Styles’ Vogue cover, sharing in the past that it wasn’t a personal dig against the artist. “I’m not dragging Harry Styles, but he is the one you’re going to try and use to represent this new conversation? He doesn’t care, he’s just doing it because it’s the thing to do.”
“This is politics for me. This is my life. I had to fight my entire life to get to the place where I could wear a dress to the Oscars and not be gunned down. All he has to do is be white and straight,” he said.
