Billy Porter Makes An Entrance (Or Three) On ‘The Late Late Show’

Billy Porter sings 'I Will Survive' on The Late Late Show with James Corden

Billy Porter makes an entrance on The Late Late Show with James Corden To say that Emmy Award nominee Billy Porter ‘dropped by’ The Late Late Show with James Corden on Wednesday could be one of the great understatements of the week. After his fellow guest, Kirsten Dunst, entered through the show’s curtains looking lovely as ever and took a seat on the interview couch, Corden introduced the POSE star. Enter Hurricane Billy. Adorned in a gold lamé cape (which became wings a la his Met gala fashion statement), Porter made his way down the stairs towards the stage only to u-turn and head back behind the curtains. Sporting a new rainbow robe and a bouquet of roses, Porter re-emerged to make his way through the audience again. And he’s not done yet! Dropping the robe to reveal a purple, glitter jumpsuit, Porter runs to the band to shake a tambourine like a pro. He’s then carried on a platform, in Cleopatra-style, to the stage by two shirtless muscle hunks. The crowd goes wild, but Corden – feigning outrage that time has been taken from Ms. Dunst – dismisses Porter from the stage. “Fine, James, fine!” says Porter as he exits. But wait – there’s more! Billy Porter sings 'I Will Survive' on The Late Late Show with James Corden As Corden attempts to interview Dunst, music swirls, curtains open and Porter launches into a spectacular disco-tastic performance of Gloria Gaynor’s iconic “I Will Survive” complete with hunky dancers and roller-skaters. Watch Billy Porter’s lesson in how to make an entrance below.

In a later segment, Porter is back on the couch as Corden asks the Tony Award winner about turning 50 this Saturday, just a day before he could make history as the first openly gay black man to win an Emmy Award for ‘Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama.’ “I feel great,” says Porter. “I have to say, everything that people say about getting older, that it gets better – is the truth.” “I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been, I’m experiencing a type of success that I didn’t even know how to dream of,” he added. “It’s really, really remarkable.” “And – the best part about it is – once you get to a certain age you have zero f*cks to give about anything or anybody! Period.” “It’s the greatest feeling in the world – the shackles are off,” he declared. “Say what you want – I’m gonna do me, and I’m gonna do it ’til I’m dead!”

Make sure to tune in to the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday night, September 22, at 8 pm ET on Fox.

PEOPLE Names Billy Porter One Of The ‘Best Dressed Of 2019’

Chalk up another title added to POSEstar Billy Porter’s list of accomplishments: the Tony Award-winner has been named one of  PEOPLE’s Best Dressed of 2019. And for so many reasons. The red carpet ninja killed it throughout the recent awards season. From his stunning Christian Sirano designed black velvet tuxedo ball gown worn to the Oscars; to his embroidered suit complete with pink-lined cape at the Golden Globes; to his ‘Sun God’ inspired fashion for this year’s Met Gala; and his glorious hot pink/red Celestine Couture ball gown for the Tony Awards, Mr. Porter is just beginning to own his fashion statements. https://www.instagram.com/p/BuSF3dEl_e0/ https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsjd6p6FVDd/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BxJbaXfFerw/ https://www.instagram.com/p/Bygz46zjuNF/ “As a man, I really want to make a different kind of statement and show up in a way that could also be transformative, that could also be political,” Porter told PEOPLE. “My goal was to be a walking piece of political art. When I show up that’s what my goal is. Put a man in a dress and it’s controversial, doesn’t make any sense, but okay. Let’s keep having this conversation until we can change something.” It wasn’t until he began working on his groundbreaking FX series POSE that he “realized how gender fluid” his fashion instincts had been. “It kind of cracked my brain open and helped me get to a different space and understanding about myself,” said the 49-year-old actor. “The dilemmas I was putting on myself, even just about what I can wear, what was acceptable, what was masculine enough, what was acceptable.” Porter also noted that he’s not the only public figure exploring gender-fluid fashion like Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness and Grammy Award-winner Sam Smith. “There’s a few of us trying to do it. But I think it’s really transforming something,” opined Porter. “It’s really making a difference. I’m seeing more and more men playing in that way.” With his historic Emmy Award nomination for his work on POSE as ‘Best Actor in a Drama,’ Porter advises we all stay tuned for his upcoming look. “It’ll be a fashion moment,” he assures. “I don’t know what it is yet, but it’s going to be a moment. It has to be a moment now! I’ve created something where I have to show up, it has to be a moment. I don’t know if it’s going to be a dress or anything like that but we’ll see.” Congratulations to Billy for blazing his own trail and showing folks we don’t have to fit into someone else’s mold. Here are a few more fashion statements by the Grammy Award winner. https://www.instagram.com/p/ByMEAeVFTmI/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BtXKpFElm6t/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BzVpkQHFLJu/ https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt96EvzlJ4K/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BxxYi7qFOS-/ https://www.instagram.com/p/B17TvFbltiH/

Billy Porter On Breaking Through At 49 ‘I Do Not Take It Lightly’

Billy Porter, nominated for ‘Best Actor in a Drama’ at this year’s Emmy Awards for his star turn on the FX series, POSE, recently spoke to PEOPLE about the ‘moment’ he is currently in thanks to the groundbreaking TV show.

“I really had a hard time as an out, black, gay actor making any headway. I wasn’t having a great time living up to the heteronormative masculinity standard to get the straight male work. So I wasn’t really working in film and television. And it was just frustrating, you know? It was just frustrating to sort of feel ignored and feel dismissed, and dismissed for even the flamboyant things.

“I’ve been in the busy 30 years – I’ve never been the object of affection in anything. When you’re gay, they like to cut your dick off and make you asexual.

“The stories that get greenlit about black men are generally about us killing each other very often.

“And so, it’s nice, it’s beautiful, and it’s time to for the world to understand that there all types of people on the planet, we do different things AND we can honor each other’s humanity inside of that.”

“I choose joy, I choose life, I made that decision a long time ago.”

Watch more from the Golden Globe/Emmy Award-nominated Mr. Porter below.

(images via screen capture – People)

Billy Porter On Shooting POSE: “I Was Set Free”

Speaking with POSE creator/producer Ryan Murphy at an event in support of the Emmy-nominated series, Billy Porter says he felt "set free" shooting the acclaimed FX series.

Speaking with POSE creator/producer Ryan Murphy at an event in support of the Emmy-nominated series, Billy Porter says he felt “set free” shooting the acclaimed FX series.

Via Deadline:

For Porter, who spent decades struggling as an openly gay black artist, shooting Pose was cathartic.

“The first ball day sticks out really clearly to me because I was doing what I thought my television performance should be. I was trying to play Pray Tell and be smaller, be still, don’t be so crazy.

“[Murphy] walks in and is like, ‘Are you going to give me the sh*t? I need the sh*t. I need you. I need whatever you do,’” he recalled. “I had never said anything to him about it, but he knew instinctively. I was set free on that day, and I never turned back.”

Later in the chat, Porter added he made a conscious decision years ago to choose himself – his “sanity” and “authenticity” – over fame.

“20 years ago, I looked at the landscape, I looked at my life, I looked at what my choices were, and I made the choice to choose myself, choose my sanity over my fame, choose my authenticity over all else, and took every hit that comes with that,” Porter said. “Never did I imagine that I could and would be a first.”

Billy Porter On Equinox Controversy: “Leave – That’s What Activism Is”

POSE star Billy Porter told Variety his solution to the controversy over Equinox/SoulCycle owner Stephen Ross hosting a campaign fundraising event for Donald Trump is simple: “Leave.”
Billy Porter on FX’s acclaimed series POSE

POSE star Billy Porter told Variety his solution to the controversy over Equinox/SoulCycle owner Stephen Ross hosting a campaign fundraising event for Donald Trump is simple: “Leave.”

“That’s what activism is. It doesn’t work unless you hit these people where their bank accounts are.

“You don’t get to have these views and rape and pillage from us. That whole business is built on queer people, people of color, the whole business is built on that. So we need to go. It is an us and a they. That’s what it is. I didn’t do that part.

“That’s where we are and so therefore, my Equinox membership is canceled.”

Favorites From Billy Porter’s Fab & Fierce Recording Career

Looking back at Billy Porter's extensive recording career.
Billy Porter (photo: John Ganun)

As we’re enjoying season 2 of the acclaimed FX series POSE, I see many on social media living for the musical performances on the show, especially by Tony Award winner Billy Porter as ‘Pray Tell.’

But some may not realize how extensive Porter’s recording career is.

After winning the television talent show Star Search back in 1992 (while performing on Broadway), Porter began making his mark in the recording studio.

One of his most well-known pop music tracks (even if folks didn’t know it was the future Golden Globe/Emmy Award nominee) was “Love Is On The Way,” the lead single from the soundtrack of the 1996 Bette Midler / Goldie Hawn / Diane Keaton film, The First Wives Club.

Porter also had a #1 hit on the Billboard AC chart collaborating with pianist Jim Brickman and Jordan Hill on the title track to Brickman’s 1999 album, Destiny.

Porter’s own albums offer his own distinct musical style which combines R&B, pop, and soul.

His latest single, “Love Yourself,” an upbeat paean to looking to ourselves first for approval.

The song “Time,” from his spectacular live one-man show, At the Corner of Broadway + Soul, was written by Porter and grabbed national attention when it was featured on the reality dance competition, So You Think You Can Dance.

He also recently teamed up with his longtime friend, two-time OutMusic Award winner Matt Zarley, on a cover of the 1994 Des’ree hit, “You Gotta Be.” Again, the theme of self-love and empowerment weaves its way through the Porter catalog. Note – all proceeds of the new recording go to the Los Angeles LGBT Center.

And Porter has also returned to his Broadway roots bringing his unique musical sensibilities to two studio albums – the 2014 Billy’s Back on Broadway, and his 2017 release, Billy Porter Presents: The Soul of Richard Rodgers.

Billy Porter: ‘Sing As Loud And High As You Can Until You Can Get Out’

Billy Porter

Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Billy Porter has come to be seen as almost larger than life when you consider his passionate performances in the acclaimed FX series, POSE, as well as his bold and unabashed fashion choices which have earned him the title of ‘Red Carpet Ninja.’

But in a recent interview with veteran journalist Katie Couric for her ‘In My Orbit’ video series, Porter offers candid, personal insights into how he came to view his talent and how it could save him during a difficult childhood.

Surrounded by several of the outfits he’s made famous at Christian Siriano’s The Curated NYC, Porter explains that it was ultimately his voice that helped him find acceptance within his own family.

“I understood that the talent that I have is not what everybody gets,” shared the Tony Award winner without ego.

“When I sang, the people around me behaved differently,” said Porter. “You know, my family wasn’t scared of my sissiness anymore when I sang. That was the one thing that kept them comforted – was when I could sing. So it became: ‘Well, just sing as loud as you can and as high as you can for as long as you can until you can get out.’”

“And I did,” added Porter.

Upon moving to New York City after training at Carnegie Mellon University, one of the leading theater schools in the country, Porter already knew his plan: “I would play my trump card, which was this crazy voice. And then once I got in, and started working, then an expansioncould happen and I could show the rest of myself.”

But that’s not what happened. Instead, Porter found himself pigeon-holed as the ‘sassy, Black, queeny, flamboyant clown.’

But then he saw Jeffrey Wright as “Belize” in the original Broadway cast of the ground-breaking Angels In America, and he suddenly saw a space for himself.

“For the first time, I saw a Black gay man who was not reviled and not just the comic relief,” shared Porter. “He was a human being, like a real human being.”

He would eventually play that role in the off-Broadway revival, but as he admits here, to shut down the ‘clown’ roles, he stopped working commercially for 13 years.

Then along came a little show named Kinky Boots. And a Tony Award for ‘Best Actor in a Musical.’

And then, Ryan Murphy and POSE, which Porter still seems to be wrapping his head around to this day.

“It blows my mind. There was no context to dream up a show like POSE; to dream up a character like ‘Pray Tell.’ There was no space for that,” he tells Couric. “That’s what Ryan Murphy and this situation has allowed for me to understand how to do – is dream the impossible. There are no limits.”

Bringing up his recent star turns on the awards show red carpets, Porter’s enthusiasm is evident.

“I’ve always loved the red carpet, I’ve always loved fashion,” gushes the vibrant actor. “I have always been a fashion person, and if you talk to anyone who’s known me for years, they’re like, ‘Duh!’”

I can attest the fashion love and the effusive personality we see in this interview is exactly the Billy Porter I’ve known since the early 1990s.

“In the quiet moments, I find the tears streaming down my face. The gratitude, the joy. Like, I lived long enough to see this day,” he admits quietly.

What’s next for Porter?

“I want to be Oprah. I want to be Beyonce. I want to be the one writing the checks. I want to be the one telling myself ‘Yes.’ That’s next.”

It’s a great interview. Hit play below.

Billy Porter: ‘Conservatives Are Human Beings, Too – It’s All About Respecting Each Other’s Humanity’

In the afterglow of his Emmy Award nomination in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series category for his work as 'Pray Tell' in the acclaimed FX series POSE, Billy Porter shared with The Wrap how the show is teaching all kinds of people - himself included - about a world too few understand.
Billy Porter in POSE

In the afterglow of his Emmy Award nomination in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
category for his work as ‘Pray Tell’ in the acclaimed FX series POSE, Billy Porter shared with The Wrap how the show is teaching all kinds of people – himself included – about a world too few understand.

“There are a lot of older white people who are watching the show who stop me on the street and thank us for being brave and bold enough to stand inside of our truth — when many in the world think our truth is insignificant, that our truth is mutable, that it’s dismissible. That our humanity is up for legislation, constantly.”

“Some of the people that I’ve come in contact with are conservatives. Conservatives are human beings, too. They can be moved and can be changed. It’s all about respecting each other’s humanity. We get to teach people how to do that. How to love. How to choose love and not hate.”

“I came out when I was 16 in 1987 and we went straight to the front line to fight for our lives. I have realized with this show that the T in LGBTQ has been really absent from my knowledge,” he said.

“If you want to see real authenticity, the bravest kind of authenticity, look at these transgender people and how they live.

“The choice in this world. The necessity to be authentic. We throw that word around a lot. I always say it’s easy to be who you are when what you are is what’s popular. These are true heroes, in my book. and true teachers. They’re teaching us what it means to be honest to be truthful to be authentic — no matter what.”

2019 Primetime Emmy Nominations Announced

The 2019 Emmy Award nominations are out and, as expected, Billy Porter snagged a well-earned nomination for Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his work as "Pray Tell" in FX's acclaimed series, Pose. The series was also nominated in the Outstanding Drama Series category.
Billy Porter in FX’s ‘Pose’

The 2019 Primetime Emmy Award nominations are out and, as expected, Billy Porter snagged a well-earned nomination for Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his work as “Pray Tell” in FX’s acclaimed series, Pose.

Porter makes history as the first openly gay black man to be nominated for a Lead Actor in a Drama Series Emmy Award.

The series, which chronicles the ball culture of New York City in the late 80s at the height of the AIDS epidemic, was also nominated in the Outstanding Drama Series category.

RuPaul’s Drag Race was also honored with nine nominations including Outstanding Competition Series.

My favorite limited series of the year, Fosse/Verdon, received 17 nominations including nods for Lead Actor and Lead Actress in a Limited Series for Sam Rockwell and Michelle Williams respectively.

And – Randy Report favorite Randy Rainbow snagged a nod for Outstanding Short Form Variety Series.

HBO’s Game of Thrones led the scoreboard with a whopping 32 nominations.

The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards will air Sept. 22 at 8:00 p.m. ET at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Here is the list of acting and series nominees. The full list of nominees can be found at Emmys.com.

Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie:
Mahershala Ali — “True Detective” (HBO)
Benicio Del Toro — “Escape at Dannemora” (Showtime)
Hugh Grant — “A Very English Scandal” (BBC)
Jared Harris — “Chernobyl” (HBO)
Jharrel Jerome — “When They See Us” (Netflix)
Sam Rockwell — “Fosse/Verdon” (FX)

Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie:
Amy Adams — “Sharp Objects” (HBO)
Patricia Arquette — “Escape at Dannemora” (Showtime)
Aunjanue Ellis — “When They See Us” (Netflix)
Joey King — “The Act” (Hulu)
Niecy Nash — “When They See Us” (Netflix)
Michelle Williams — “Fosse/Verdon” (FX)

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:
Anthony Anderson — “Black-ish” (ABC)
Don Cheadle — “Black Monday” (Showtime)
Ted Danson — “The Good Place” (NBC)
Michael Douglas — “The Kominsky Method” (Netflix)
Bill Hader — “Barry” (HBO)
Eugene Levy — “Schitt’s Creek” (CBC Television)

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:
Christina Applegate — “Dead to Me” (Netflix)
Rachel Brosnahan — “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon)
Julia Louis-Dryfus — “Veep” (HBO)
Natasha Lyonne — “Russian Doll” (Netflix)
Catherine O’Hara — “Schitt’s Creek” (CBC Television)
Phoebe Waller-Bridge — “Fleabag” (Amazon)

Lead Actor in a Drama Series:
Jason Bateman — “Ozark” (Netflix)
Sterling K. Brown — “This is Us” (NBC)
Kit Harington — “Game of Thrones” (HBO)
Bob Odenkirk — “Better Call Saul” (Netflix/AMC)
Billy Porter — “Pose” (FX)
Milo Ventimiglia — “This is Us” (NBC)

Lead Actress in a Drama Series:
Emilia Clarke — “Game of Thrones” (HBO)
Jodie Comer — “Killing Eve” (BBC/AMC)
Viola Davis — “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC)
Laura Linney — “Ozark” (Netflix)
Mandy Moore — “This is Us” (NBC)
Sandra Oh — “Killing Eve” (BBC/AMC)
Robin Wright — “House of Cards” (Netflix)

Outstanding Competition Program:
“The Amazing Race” (CBS)
“American Ninja Warrior” (NBC)
“Nailed It” (Netflix)
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” (VH1)
“Top Chef” (Bravo)
“The Voice” (NBC)

Outstanding Variety Talk Series:
“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central)
“Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” (TBS)
“Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC)
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (HBO)
“The Late Late Show with James Cordon” (CBS)
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS)

Outstanding Television Movie:
“Bandersnatch: Black Mirror” (Netflix)
“Brexit” (Amazon)
“Deadwood: The Movie” (HBO)
“King Lear” (BBC)
“My Dinner with Herve” (HBO)

Outstanding Limited Series:
“Chernobyl” (HBO)
“Escape at Dannemora” (Showtime)
“Fosse/Verdon” (FX)
“Sharp Objects” (HBO)
“When They See Us” (Netflix)

Outstanding Comedy Series:
“Barry” (HBO)
“Fleabag” (Amazon)
“The Good Place” (NBC)
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon)
“Russian Doll” (Netflix)
“Schitt’s Creek” (CBC Television)
“Veep” (HBO)

Outstanding Drama Series:
“Better Call Saul” (AMC)
“Bodyguard” (Netflix)
“Game of Thrones” (HBO)
“Killing Eve” (BBC America)
“Ozark” (Netflix)
“Pose” (FX)
“Succession” (HBO)
“This Is Us” (NBC)

Podcast: Tax Cuts For Married Couples, Wealthy Athlete Looks To Fans To Pay Legal Bills, New Inductee On Hollywood Walk Of Fame

In this week's podcast: • White House hopeful Elizabeth Warren has proposed allowing same-sex married couples be allowed to file amended tax returns for refunds • A Texas couple found a touching note on their porch during Pride Month • Terrorist threats at St. Louis Pride • A wealthy Australian rugby player, stripped of his contract for homophobic social media, wants fans to pay his legal bills • Pose star Billy Porter is getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame All that and more on this episode of The Randy Report

In this week’s podcast:

• White House hopeful Elizabeth Warren has proposed allowing same-sex married couples be allowed to file amended tax returns for refunds

• A Texas couple found a touching note on their porch during Pride Month

• Terrorist threats at St. Louis Pride

• A wealthy Australian rugby player, stripped of his contract for homophobic social media, wants fans to pay his legal bills

• Pose star Billy Porter is getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

All that and more on this episode of The Randy Report