The 'Pose' star is facing criticisms after he's announced to make an appearance on the popular children's show wearing his dress from the 2019 Academy Awards.
- Feb 6, 2020
AceShowbiz - Billy Porter has slammed critics of his appearance on "Sesame Street", after he announced he'll be appearing on the show in the dress he wore to last year's Oscars.
The "Pose" actor, who is a vocal member of the LGBTQ+ community and renowned for his flamboyant style and red carpet attire, will wear the black Christian Siriano tuxedo gown on an instalment of the popular children's show later this year, prompting critics to slam the star.
Trolls, including the state senator of Arkansas, Jason Rapert, tore into Porter, asking on Facebook, "Do you approve of your taxpayer dollars being used to promote the radical LGBTQ agenda?"
A petition circulated to have the episode pulled and even accused the program of trying to "sexualise children using drag queens."
However, the Broadway star clapped back in a chat with the New York Post's gossip column Page Six, insisting, "If you don't like it, don't watch it."
Adding that it's unusual to make the mental leap from his dress to "perverted demon sex," he continued, "Like, what about me singing with a penguin (puppet, on the show) has anything to do with what I'm doing in my bedroom?"
"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."
He concluded, "Stay out of my bedroom and you will be fine - that is none of your business."
"Sesame Street" has always been at the forefront of promoting key cultural issues on the educational series, and notably featured one of the first televised scenes of breastfeeding, when presenter, singer Buffy Sainte-Marie, demonstrated the act onscreen back in 1977.
