Billy Porter's memoir
Billy Porter's memoir
fosterfan2
Broadway Star Joined: 8/7/11
Sutton Ross
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
#2Billy Porter's memoir
Posted: 10/20/21 at 12:58pm
He's currently being screamed at by Harry Styles' fans. Really terrible things. Yikes.
I hope the book is a success.
iluvtheatertrash
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
#3Billy Porter's memoir
Posted: 10/20/21 at 1:12pm
I don't disagree with him about Styles, but I found his saying he created the conversation to be a little ridiculous. Folks have explored gender in fashion long before Billy.
Sutton Ross
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
#4Billy Porter's memoir
Posted: 10/20/21 at 1:15pm
I agree. He seemed childish and mean spirited about it. His message is "It's all love, I don't have time for negativity", so it seems off brand for him. And we all know he is alll about that brand.
JasonC3
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/21
#5Billy Porter's memoir
Posted: 10/20/21 at 2:07pm
I'm still chuckling about this nugget from the BWW article:
"Porter's debut book is already a best seller, hitting #1 on the Amazon charts for the Rap & Hip-Hop Musician Biographies"
I'm sure that book category is wildly competitive on Amazon right now.
Sutton Ross
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
#7Billy Porter's memoir
Posted: 10/20/21 at 2:40pm
Standing on the shoulders of every other cis to put on a dress to elevate himself whilst cutting down those around him.
Sounds on brand to me.
iluvtheatertrash
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
#8Billy Porter's memoir
Posted: 10/20/21 at 2:47pm
I was looking forward to the book at first, but that recent comment put me off a bit. I'll still read it eventually, but not in a rush. He's very gifted, but the arrogance is a lot.
#9Billy Porter's memoir
Posted: 10/20/21 at 5:55pm
iluvtheatertrash said: "I was looking forward to the book at first, but that recent comment put me off a bit. I'll still read it eventually, but not in a rush. He's very gifted, but the arrogance is a lot."
He must have studied at the Jenifer Lewis School of Unable To Acknowledge Anyone Did This Before Me. I love him and part of what I love is his self importance. However when he comes for someone else it’s very off putting
#10Billy Porter's memoir
Posted: 10/20/21 at 6:24pmHe comes off way too arrogant and full of himself - it’s off putting and that may work against him, which is unfortunate because he is very talented and deserves all of the success he has. He needs to tone it down a bit - he seems to be on the defensive a lot.
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#11Billy Porter's memoir
Posted: 10/20/21 at 7:32pmI was on the Billy Porter train for years. Not so much anymore. That arrogance is nauseating and I’ve witnessed it up close pre-COVID at a private party. He was just another guest but you’d have thought the party was to celebrate him. Many there also felt the same. He has his fans so bless him. I heard Ryan Murphy isn’t a fan anymore hence why he’s only done POSE and no other Murphy project like many others do.
#12Billy Porter's memoir
Posted: 10/20/21 at 9:05pm
I have no desire to read the book at this point. I met Billy Porter not long before he did "Kinky Boots". He was pretty humble at that point. I won't go into our short conversation but it seemed he was looking to get his life back on track and was a semi frank conversation that lasted about 15 minutes. I knew who he was when he sat down next to me and the excitement I was feeling was crazy. Years back, I looked up to he and Titus as black men in the theatre. From people I know who have known him, I am told this outspoken flamboyant side of him has always been there. He is way more visible now. I am sure he now has "people" and is being asked to wear the clothes/couture he is sporting on red carpets. So now he can be himself in really expensive clothes.
He did NOT open the conversation on non-binary dress or do it first. The conversation was "opened" and it was done years ago by the likes of Grace Jones, David Bowie, Prince and Sylvester (Among others). I am with him partially as far as race goes but I don't think Harry Styles dresses the way he does to "make a statement" about non-binary fashion. I think Harry Styles just wears what he wants. Also, Porter, from what I know, does not identify as non-binary. (Maybe that will be his next thing) So how is he going to make a "statement" for a community he does not really belong to? Back in the day "non binary" dress was called androgyny. And they did it much better than what he is doing now. It wasn't flamboyant outfits and garish makeup. (Although, the Oscar Gown/tuxedo was on point)
His generation joined/ was on the heels of the one before him as far as kicking doors down. Those doors were being worked on while he was just a teenager and Billie Jean King, Matina, Rupert Everett, Elton John, Sylvester and others came out and made news.
His arrogance and flamboyance does not reflect our community as a whole. He is actually at times a stereotype that the community did not want to be solely identified with as we come from all walks of life and have come a long way. But the flamboyancy is still embraced as a "part" of us. I watch him and I think that he might be trying to relive his younger days (And still being himself). Again, I can side with him on the issue of black men not getting the chance Styles did. But to say he should have been on the cover was a stretch. Yeah, he has obtained some celebrity but not to the level of Styles. And he can in no way take credit for what those before him have done.
I met him briefly after he won the Tony and said "Hi" and reminded him of who I was. He basically blew me off. From that point on I lost respect for him. Just my random thoughts.
#13Billy Porter's memoir
Posted: 10/20/21 at 9:43pmMan, I used to love Billy. But (and I’m glad others here feel the same), his shift to this ultra arrogant queen has 100% turned me against wanting to see anything he does.
VintageSnarker
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/30/15
#14Billy Porter's memoir
Posted: 10/20/21 at 9:46pm
Eh... I'll still read it. I love a celebrity memoir (and I define celebrity very loosely in this context) and they're always an exercise of ego. It's interesting to me how people present themselves. If you're lucky, there's something dishy or, more rarely, some deeper wisdom, but I never count on that.
#15Billy Porter's memoir
Posted: 10/20/21 at 11:56pm
VintageSnarker said: "Eh... I'll still read it. I love a celebrity memoir (and I define celebrity very loosely in this context) and they're always an exercise of ego. It's interesting to me how people present themselves. If you're lucky, there's something dishy or, more rarely, some deeper wisdom, but I never count on that."
I listen to a lot of celebrity memoirs. I wouldn’t say they are always an exercise of ego but I agree with you that the perspective they take is very telling in and of itself. I find that to often be the most revealing insight into themselves.
sng
Featured Actor Joined: 6/7/15
#16Billy Porter's memoir
Posted: 10/21/21 at 12:53am
My feeling towards him changed a lot since his response to the exclusion of his trans colleagues at the Emmys. Now every time I see his interviews, like on the Graham Norton show recently, I cringe at his arrogant, ignorant and self-centered personality.
#17Billy Porter's memoir
Posted: 10/21/21 at 1:58am
He's definitely gone full Hollywood.
I just miss his old voice... Back when it was a thrilling thing to listen to.
JasonC3
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/21
#18Billy Porter's memoir
Posted: 10/21/21 at 7:05amStars who remain genuinely humble about their fame shine even brighter in my eyes. I wish more did so.
#19Billy Porter's memoir
Posted: 10/21/21 at 8:25am
JasonC3 said: "Stars who remain genuinely humble about their fame shine even brighter in my eyes. I wish more did so."
Sidebar: I think Drew Carey epitomizes this the best. Yes, he is a comedy and television legend and icon, but he is never above the everyday people he meets. My cousin worked at a restaurant in WeHo he frequented after takings and he often tipped the staff VERY well, remembering his days as a waiter at Denny’s. Also, when I was a contestant on TPIR last year, I found nothing artificial about him. He is someone who is genuinely happy to see everyday people win gads of prizes and is always rooting on your side. (He also gave me the price tag of the Showcase I won as a souvenir.)
Back to Billy, could his attitude be partially attributed to the idea that he knows his star could fall at any second (as it has before), and so he is playing up and capitalizing on what he knows the public likes about him in order to maintain that sense of relevance?
#20Billy Porter's memoir
Posted: 10/21/21 at 9:13am
sng said: "My feeling towards him changed a lot since his response to the exclusion of his trans colleagues at the Emmys. Now every time I see his interviews, like on the Graham Norton show recently, I cringe at his arrogant, ignorant and self-centered personality."
What was his response? I missed that.
Edit: I googled it. Was it the response where he said it took him so long to get where he is and the comment on the record number of blacks that were nominated?
Sutton Ross
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
#21Billy Porter's memoir
Posted: 10/21/21 at 12:47pm
This was a good article about it for those interested.
Harry Styles isn't the leader of a fashion revolution, but neither is Billy Porter
#22Billy Porter's memoir
Posted: 10/21/21 at 1:13pm
Meh, Billy Porter is very typical of someone who worked for a long time without achieving that upper echelon of stardom. Despite his Tony win as Lola, before Pose, it was quite possible to say, "Who's Billy Porter?" But then mainstream stardom happened, and he went Hollywood.
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#24Billy Porter's memoir
Posted: 10/23/21 at 1:12pm
He's being interviewed on NPR's Saturday morning program if you can catch it...
https://www.npr.org/2021/10/23/1048022446/fresh-air-weekend-billy-porter-cynthia-erivo
#25Billy Porter's memoir
Posted: 11/6/21 at 4:50pm
He did Colbert on Thursday and apologized to Harry Styles and said that "It wasn't about you, Harry" (Paraphrasing) I wish Colbert had taken the questioning further about Billy's claim that he did it first but it was a very upbeat 2 segments. Porter also said it must have been a slow news day and had some words for the internet.
Annaleigh Ashford was on after Porter and they mentioned him at the beginning of her interview. She said she was in his dressing room before the show and called it the Church of Billy Porter. Colbert responded "Yes, he is always preaching". And I agree. It seems every response he gives to a question is a sermon on life. While it is great to have someone pushing positivity, it just gets tiring after a while when almost every response is like a sermon.
https://youtu.be/YbD_LgHZoEI
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