Billy Porter is causing quite a stir across social media because of his respectful gesture towards President Biden at the White House Juneteenth event.
The Actor and singer attended the event in a sequined dress and long flowing hair but it’s the photo of him kissing Biden’s hand that has everyone talking.
For some background President Joe Biden celebrated the Juneteenth holiday early with a Monday concert on the White House South Lawn with singers including Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle according to the Associated Press.
“Black history is American history,” Biden told the crowd.
While some praised Billy for his ensemble others were not happy about the kiss.
Read reactions below:
Billy Porter just walked past me like a sequined angel at the White House Juneteenth concert ✨ pic.twitter.com/D5GTDrQJPv
— Qondi (@QondiNtini) June 10, 2024
and
BILLY PORTER, PUH-LEASEEEEEEEEEEE LMFAO! https://t.co/M9rWBZnZh7
— k a r y. (@itsKARY_) June 11, 2024
and
It’s the fact that Billy Porter is looking right into the camera while he is kissing Joe Biden’s hand, knowing that this is a Juneteenth event. It is the fact that I know that Joe Biden doesn’t wash his hands, hope it was extra salty for ol Billy.
— ⚜️Sovereign⚜️ (@sauvamemte) June 11, 2024
and
First Billy Porter kissing genocide joe butcher biden’s hand like a clown and now this nonsense. Embarrassing af. https://t.co/Ra99f1VSwI
— Giddens (@GiddensVision) June 11, 2024
and
I literally ALMOST felt bad for Billy Porter, because he stay getting dragged, then, this nigga goes and kiss Sleepy’s hand while looking into the camera ????????????????
— The Ebony Alert ???? (@atme_at) June 11, 2024
and
Billy Porter kissed Joe Biden’s hand?? ????
— Mia (@xoshamieh) June 11, 2024
Billy Porter And James Baldwin
As we reported Billy Porter has signed up to co-write and star in a James Baldwin biopic. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the multihyphenate star will co-produce the feature alongside Byron Allen’s Media Group Picture.
Porter will also pen the script (alongside Dan McCabe) based on the 1994 biography James Baldwin: A Biography by author David Leeming.
With that said his role in the biopic has had it’s share of criticism. According to Deadline During an appearance on The Tamron Hall Show, Porter hit back at critics saying:
“First and foremost, the internet has created a space where it’s made people think that their opinion matters at all — it doesn’t. I am 53 years old and I’ve dedicated my life to my art and my craft. Question me at your own peril.”
Porter said that he is still at the beginning stages of writing the script with Dan McCabe.
“It’s alright. Call it whatever you want, arrogant… whatever you want. I’ve worked hard for this,” he continued. “And my mantra and I say it all the time, I do not now, nor will I ever, adjudicate my life or humanity in sound bites on social media. I’m going to focus on the work — that’s all I can do. People have been doubting me my whole life. This ain’t nothing new. None of it is new.”
During his interview on the Daytime show, Porter also talked about why it was important for him to make this film.
“James Baldwin and his work and what he represented in the world, everything, he’s one of the first people who I saw who looked like me, who represented me in the fullness: Black, queer, and present,” Porter said. “I’m alive because I was able to see him in my early 20s, and I met an English professor about a couple of years back who didn’t know who he was — an English professor, at a college, teaching English at a college, who didn’t know who James Baldwin was. This is unacceptable. It’s completely unacceptable.”
The more you learn about Billy Porter, the more offensive it becomes that he’s playing James Baldwin https://t.co/M7tlX89ESn
— Siddhant Adlakha (@SiddhantAdlakha) June 11, 2024
