Billy Porter in ‘Cinderella’ (screen capture) Check out this early teaser for the upcoming Amazon Prime Video reboot of “Cinderella,” set to premiere on September 3, 2021. The new take on the familiar fable stars Camila Cabello as the ‘cinder girl’ herself and Emmy/Tony Award winner Billy Porter as her fairy god-person, “the Fab G.”
When the casting of Porter was first announced, the POSE star told CBS News in March 2020, “Magic has no gender – we are presenting this character as genderless. At least that’s how I’m playing it. And it’s really powerful.”
This Cinderella is a classic fairytale for a new generation. To be able to play this genderless, fabulous fairy godmother – what a gift. Thank you @CBSNews for sitting down with me and catching up about the role❤️ https://t.co/PgVwnhdthIpic.twitter.com/DZNBmRS3CK
Tony/Emmy/Grammy Award winner Billy Porter On the eve of the 40th anniversary of the first AIDS diagnosis, the world remains caught in the grips of another frightening health epidemic – COVID. Today, June 24, from 6:00-8:30PM EST, activist and actor Billy Porter – who just recently shared his own HIV diagnosis with the world – will join Michael Sneed, Johnson & Johnson’s EVP of Global Cultural Affairs (which in addition to helping the world fight COVID, is currently working on a HIV vaccine) for a free special screening of the award-winning documentary 5B. The acclaimed documentary chronicles the stories of the heroic nurses who risked their lives to found the World’s first AIDS Ward. Following the screening, Porter will chat with 5B nurse Alison Moëd Paolercio, and author Rebecca Love RN to discuss the disproportionate toll that epidemics and pandemics take on at-risk communities, the parallels between the HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 crises, and the role of nurses in driving healthcare change. People can registerhere for the webinar. Not able to join the event? Visit 5Bfilm.com to find out where to stream the movie and, after the event, view the archived fireside chat at https://nursing.jnj.com/5B-fireside-chat-with-billy-porter. Here’s the official trailer for 5B:
Michael and I loved this year’s installment of MisCast, the annual fundraiser for MCC Theater (Manhattan Class Company). The annual gala celebration features artists performing songs from roles in which they wouldn’t traditionally be cast. Performances in MisCast21 in order of appearance:
RENÉE ELISE GOLDSBERRY performing THOSE MAGIC CHANGES from GREASE MELISSA BARRERA and LESLIE GRACE performing WHAT YOU OWN from RENT CHEYENNE JACKSON performing IF I WERE A BELL from GUYS AND DOLLS JAI’LEN JOSEY performing OUT THERE from THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME ROBIN DE JESÚS performing NOTHING from A CHORUS LINE PATRICK WILSON performing THINK OF ME from THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA LACHANZE performing WAIT FOR IT from HAMILTON ANNALEIGH ASHFORD performing MISTER MISTOFFELEES from CATS KELLY MARIE TRAN performing YOU AND ME (BUT MOSTLY ME) from THE BOOK OF MORMON BILLY PORTER performing DIVA’S LAMENT from SPAMALOT AARON TVEIT and GAVIN CREEL performing IN HIS EYES from JEKYLL AND HYDE KELLI O’HARA performing BEAUTIFUL CITY from GODSPELL IDINA MENZEL performing MORNING GLOW from PIPPIN
Broadway stars Billy Porter, Kelli O’Hara and Robin DeJesus Funds raised from Miscast21 help MCC Theater produce new work Off-Broadway and support its Youth Company and in-school partnerships that serve New York City public high school students as well as MCC’s literary development work with emerging playwrights. Hit the play button and enjoy. One thing I’ll say about the pandemic – it’s really helped artists to get really skilled at sharing their gifts in these virtual galas.
Grammy/Emmy/Tony Award winner Billy Porter (screen capture – THR) After a deeply moving episode of the acclaimed FX series Pose on Sunday which drew in part from his own personal life story, Grammy/Emmy Award winner Billy Porter has come out as HIV+ today in a candid and revealing interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
I was the generation that was supposed to know better, and it happened anyway. It was 2007, the worst year of my life. I was on the precipice of obscurity for about a decade or so, but 2007 was the worst of it. By February, I had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. By March, I signed bankruptcy papers.
And by June, I was diagnosed HIV-positive. The shame of that time compounded with the shame that had already [accumulated] in my life silenced me, and I have lived with that shame in silence for 14 years. HIV-positive, where I come from, growing up in the Pentecostal church with a very religious family, is God’s punishment.
The 51-year-old actor also shares how Pose changed the equation for him:
Then came Pose. An opportunity to work through the shame [of HIV] and where I have gotten to in this moment. And the brilliance of Pray Tell and this opportunity was that I was able to say everything that I wanted to say through a surrogate. My compartmentalizing and disassociation muscles are very, very strong, so I had no idea I was being traumatized or triggered. I was just happy that somebody was finally taking me seriously as an actor.
Porter had made a pact that he wouldn’t tell his mother because he felt she’d already gone through so much due to his ‘queerness.’ But on the last day of shooting his scenes for Pose, he had an epiphany.
Then I woke up on the last day of [shooting] Pose; I was writing in my gratitude journal and my mama popped into my head. I was like, “Let me just call her.” Not two minutes into the conversation, she’s like, “What’s wrong?” I said, “Nothing.” She’s like, “Son, please tell me what’s wrong.”
So I ripped the Band-Aid off and I told her. She said, “You’ve been carrying this around for 14 years? Don’t ever do this again. I’m your mother, I love you no matter what. And I know I didn’t understand how to do that early on, but it’s been decades now.” And it’s all true. It’s my own shame. Years of trauma makes a human being skittish. But the truth shall set you free. I feel my heart releasing. It had felt like a hand was holding my heart clenched for years — for years — and it’s all gone.
While Pose may be coming to an end, the future is full of new adventures for Billy.
Every single solitary dream that I ever had is coming true in this moment, all at the same time. I’m getting ready to play the fairy godmother in Cinderella. I have new music coming out. I have a memoir coming out. Pose is out. I’m directing my first film. And I’m trying to be present. I’m trying to be joyful, and one of the effects of trauma is not being able to feel joy.
I celebrate Billy’s inspiring and uplifting journey to his truth, and his sharing it with us. Please read the full article (and watch the video interview) at The Hollywood Reporter.
DaShawn Usher, Associate Director – Communities of Color for GLAAD, issued a statement on Billy’s announcement:
“The tremendous levels of stigma facing people living with HIV today can only be broken by icons like Billy Porter showing the world that HIV is not at all a barrier to a healthy and successful life. People living with HIV today, when on effective treatment, lead long and healthy lives and cannot transmit HIV, plus medications like PrEP protect people who do not have HIV from contracting HIV, but these leaps in HIV prevention and treatment have largely been invisible in the news and entertainment industries.”
“When the groundbreaking show Pose goes off air in a few weeks, there will be zero television characters living with HIV. That is truly unacceptable when 1.2 million Americans and about 38 million people globally are living with HIV. Billy’s powerful interview needs to be a wake-up call for media and the general public that it’s time to end the stigma that people living with HIV face and to educate each other about HIV prevention and treatment.”
GLAAD and Gilead Sciences last year released a survey that measures American attitudes toward HIV/AIDS and people living with HIV. Among those findings were only 55% of LGBTQ Americans and 51% of non-LGBTQ Americans report feeling knowledgeable about HIV.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CO3BcdTtJ1f/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Some of our favorite Instagram posts this week from the land of Insta. First up, Moe Bear (above) was all smiles for ‘Flex Friday’ and gave a shout-out to his ‘almost abs’ (we think he looks pretty dang great). Photographer Leonardo Ursini makes a pretty convincing argument that ‘thick is the new ripped:’ https://www.instagram.com/p/CO0oGs0gKkN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link LuffyPiece served up our favorite selfie this week: https://www.instagram.com/p/COuFmTAlTkC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Writer Rich Burns showed off how fab life after 50 can be: https://www.instagram.com/p/CO73dPqMKIH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Former Army Captain Roberto Portales kept his scuba class waiting: https://www.instagram.com/p/CO6eHkqBop6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Johnny Middlebrooks boasts some bountiful biceps in what he calls his ‘off season’ shape: https://www.instagram.com/p/CO6QJEBrdso/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Bearded Frank served up serious beard goals from Black Sands Beach in Sausalito: https://www.instagram.com/p/CO8PvuagUVJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link We think fur is fab, but Max Souza reminds how sexy smooth can be: https://www.instagram.com/p/CO3iH7yLg9X/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Actor/model Brock O’Hurn demonstrates the complications that arise for folks 6’7″ tall in an airplane restroom. He also mentions something about a size 15 shoe, so… https://www.instagram.com/p/CO8WfZFMTGp/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Kevin Davis got all romantical during a photo shoot with fitness guru David Cook. p.s. the duo scored a book cover deal from the shoot! https://www.instagram.com/p/CO7oxGet88_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Bruno Baba asks his followers if they like him with abs or what he calls ‘chubby:’ https://www.instagram.com/p/CO5_gP7BWLd/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Tom Daley and Matty Lee scored gold at the European Aquatics Championships in Budapest: https://www.instagram.com/p/CO57durHi9k/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Dan Tai was just hanging out to see what would happen: https://www.instagram.com/p/CO5_xnglwz-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
L-R Billy Porter and Zachary Quinto (images via Instagram/Depositphotos)
Out actors Billy Porter (POSE, Kinky Boots) and Zachary Quinto (Star Trek, The Boys in the Band) are joining the cast of the upcoming reboot of Disney’s The Proud Family.
The original series ran on Disney Channel from September 2001 to August 2005 with a 14-year-old African-American protagonist named Penny Proud.
The new series, titled The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, will stream on Disney+ and pick up with the straight A student and her coterie of friends.
As part of the new crew, Porter and Quinto will voice the roles of Randall Leibowitz-Jenkins and Barry Leibowitz-Jenkins, respectively. The pair will play mixed-race adoptive parents to 14-year-old activist Maya Leibowitz-Jenkins, to be voiced by Keke Palmer.
The animated characters of Barry and Randall Leibowitz-Jenkins (image via Disney)
Plus, EJ Johnson (Rich Kids of Beverly Hills) will voice the role of Michael Collins, Penny’s bestie who is described as “a non-conforming trendsetter serving fierce looks at school and on the basketball court” by EW.
The animated character of Michael Collins (image via Disney)
The new series is slated to launch on Disney+ in 2022.
In the meantime, you can catch Porter in the final season of FX’s acclaimed series POSE currently airing new episodes on Sundays. And Quinto can be heard as the voice of the Robot on the Amazon Original adult animated series, Invincible.
😳😱 Wow Disney said We want Zachary Quinto & Billy Porter as Queer Parents for the Proud Family on @disneyplus !!! We love to see it!!! Disney is taking representation to an 11! 🙌🏾 💜💜💜💜💜🙎🏻♂️🙎🏾♂️🙇🏽♀️ pic.twitter.com/ekWfeoed4q
Season 3 of POSE premieres May 2 on FX The creators behind the acclaimed FX series POSE have released the trailer for the upcoming 3rd and final season premiering on May 2. In the clip, we hear from the actors who have brought the compelling characters to life about where we find them in 1994. Official synopsis:
In the final season of Pose, it’s now 1994 and ballroom feels like a distant memory for Blanca who struggles to balance being a mother with being a present partner to her new love, and her latest role as a nurse’s aide.
Meanwhile, as AIDS becomes the leading cause of death for Americans ages 25 to 44, Pray Tell contends with unexpected health burdens. Elsewhere, the emergence of a vicious new upstart house forces the House of Evangelista members to contend with their legacy.
The trailer for the third and final season of the acclaimed FX series POSE is here! From the official website:
In the final season of Pose, it’s now 1994 and ballroom feels like a distant memory for Blanca who struggles to balance being a mother with being a present partner to her new love, and her latest role as a nurse’s aide.
Meanwhile, as AIDS becomes the leading cause of death for Americans ages 25 to 44, Pray Tell contends with unexpected health burdens. Elsewhere, the emergence of a vicious new upstart house forces the House of Evangelista members to contend with their legacy.
Premiering in 2018, POSE made history with its number of transgender cast members including Mj Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson, Indya Moore, Hailie Sahar, and Angelica Ross. During its first two seasons the drama garnered AFI and Peabody Awards and numerous Golden Globe nods. Series lead Billy Porter made history by being the first Black gay man to win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Season 3 of POSE will premiere on May 2 at 10 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on FX. The series finale will air June 6.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) speaks to reporters (screen capture) Some news items you might have missed: • New York Times: GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida (above) is being investigated by the Justice Department over whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old and paid for her to travel with him. Investigators are examining whether Gaetz violated federal sex trafficking laws. Gaetz told Axios today that he has been “generous as a partner.” • Kenneth-in-the-212: The ‘Morning Wood’ series on KIT212 is always worth the click. Eye-candy is good for the soul 🙂 • American Greatness: The right wing site calls out Donald Trump’s post-election fund raising which continues to rake in huge piles of cash, but very little of that money has gone toward the causes for which donors believe they are giving. • Instagram: BMX pro Corey Walsh has become one of the few professional bikers to come out as gay. In a touching post, he shared how he’s struggled for years with his sexuality. p.s. his family and friends have apparently been awesome. https://www.instagram.com/p/CNAkMW2hw0a/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link • CNN: Major Biden, the first rescue dog to live in the White House, has had another small ‘nipping’ incident while out on the White House South Lawn. #PoorDoggie • BroadwayWorld: The Drama League has announced the 2021 Nominees for The 87th Annual Drama League Awards. This year the organization has established five unique categories to honor the extraordinary achievements of artists across the nation who created digital and socially-distanced theatrical productions during this challenging year of suspension for live arts. • Logo: Emmy-winning actor and activist Billy Porter has returned for the third year in a row to deliver Logo’s 2021 LGBTQ State of the Union, a rousing speech assessing the status of LGBTQ acceptance and equality in the United States. Needless to say, a lot has changed in the past year. Between the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic and the nation’s new presidential administration, Porter had plenty of ground to cover.
Billy Porter as ‘Pray Tell’ on POSE (promo photo) The acclaimed FX series Pose resumed shooting this fall after hitting the pause button due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Emmy Award winner Billy Porter shared some intel from behind-the-scenes when he sat down on Live With Kelly and Ryan this week. “We are shooting Season 3 right now with all of the COVID protocols in place,” Porter told the hosts. “It is not the easiest version of filming a television show that I have been a part of, but I am grateful that we are back to work. Disney is now the parent company of FX, and they have really taken this seriously. They are keeping us all very safe during this process.” What folks really want to know, though, is how are they filming those huge ball scenes created with a soundstage full of actors and extras? “We’re still trying to figure that part out,” Porter admitted. “We have not shot any of the balls yet. We have been shooting the scene work, and I believe we are waiting for the ball sequences to hopefully be shooting them in some sort of vaccine situation. So, we are pushing those scenes to next year.”
