Billy Porter fires back at critics upset that he’ll wear a dress on ‘Sesame Street’: ‘If you don't like it, don't watch it'
Actor Billy Porter has fired back at critics who’ve voiced objection to his plans to appear on Sesame Street while wearing his famous Oscars tuxedo dress.
An online petition was launched calling for the as-yet-unaired Season 51 episode to be pulled, claiming the long-running children's show was "using drag queens to sexualize children.” Arkansas Sate Sen. Jason Rapert is among those decrying the cameo.
“If you don’t like it, don’t watch it,” Porter told Page Six in response to his detractors. “Like, what about me singing with a penguin [on the show] has anything to do with what I’m doing in my bedroom?”
An iconic day with an iconic person ?? Thanks for visiting Sesame Street, @theebillyporter! #Season51 pic.twitter.com/Yre2PO4a0p
— Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) January 30, 2020
The Pose star added: "The really interesting thing for me is that that’s what it’s all about when it comes to LGBTQ people — the first thing everyone wants to talk about is how we having sex.
“Stay out of my bedroom and you will be fine — that is none of your business.”
Rapert shared the petition titled "Parents demand Sesame Street remove show with drag queen" to his Facebook page, informing followers that he'd signed it.
In another post, the Republican lawmaker opined that "taxpayer funds should not be used to try and manipulate young children with the political agenda and worldview of LGBTQ activism." Since 2016, the show has aired its first-run episodes on HBO; according to the Hollywood Reporter, just 4 percent of its revenue comes from government grants.
Porter, who regularly wears dresses, is not a drag queen, although did win a Tony award for playing drag queen Lola in the Broadway version of musical Kinky Boots.
The 50-year-old trailblazer became the first openly gay black man to win in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series category at the 2019 Emmy Awards for his role as Pray Tell in Pose.
As well as acting, he's also made a name for himself in the fashion world with his truly memorable outfits.
At London Fashion Week last year, he managed to make a grand total of 15 outfit changes in under 72 hours.
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