Billy Porter Slams Harry Styles’ Cover – “He’s White and Straight”

While Harry Styles has stolen thousands of hearts for his charms and music, some people are not a fan of the singer at all. In 2020, Harry Styles appeared on Vogue’s Cover, and he went viral for his outfits as well as “breaking gender boundaries.”

He was seen rocking skirts and pastels and quickly made a name for himself whether for good or for bad. While many people appreciated the representation and were more than happy to see the star grace the prestige cover with skirts and frills, others were not so happy with his choice.

The decision to appear on the cover with skirts and dresses had caused plenty of backlash back then, with people asking whether a “man in skirts was necessary” and whether he could have gone for a “normal” outfit.

Although this is most of the backlash that Harry Styles got, another fellow artist had another concern.

Billy Porter Slams Harry Styles Vogue Cover

More than two years after Harry Styles became the first man to appear solo on the cover of Vogue, the “Pose” star is reflecting on the publication’s choice, noting that he felt Harry Styles—who was photographed in a full-length gown, landed the cover because he’s “white and straight.“

“It doesn’t feel good to me,” Porter told The Telegraph in an interview published Aug. 14. “You’re using my community, or your people are using my community—to elevate you. You haven’t had to sacrifice anything.”

Billy Porter, known for his gender-fluid fashion statements, went on to reveal that he had a conversation with Vogue’s editor-in-chief Anna Wintour months prior to the cover’s publishing

“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.”

As the 53-year-old explained, he felt that he should have urged Wintour and her staff to “use your power as Vogue to uplift the voices of the leaders of this de-gendering of fashion movement.“

It’s worth noting that Porter had spoken out about Styles’ Vogue cover before, and he wanted to make clear that he wasn’t attacking Styles personally. He just wanted to share his concerns, saying it left a bad taste in his mouth. He felt uneasy because it seemed like Styles was benefiting from Porter’s LGBTQ+ community without giving anything back.

What is your opinion on the matter? Do you think Harry Styles should have gotten the cover? Or should a person representing the LGBTQ+ community have gotten the chance to grace the cover instead? We would love to hear your thoughts below!