Actor Billy Porter on Cleaning as Self-Care and Hollywood Progress

Emmy winning actor and soon to be "Fairy Godmother" Billy Porter has taken Hollywood by storm. When he is not slaying red carpets or starring in the FX series Pose, he is taking time to practice more self-care. 

The performer and activist contends cleaning can be the ultimate form of putting yourself first and is partnering with Clorox on a new campaign. 

"I really have focused this last year on trying to figure out what this self-care thing is, so when they came to me I was like [screams with excitement]," Porter told Cheddar. 

"I also love the idea that they've chosen me. That's a very specific thing and that's saying a very specific thing to the world which is: everybody is a human being," he said. 

Along with a spokesperson and actor, the star has been outspoken about inclusivity, especially in regard to the big screen.

Last month, the Oscars received heavy criticism for the lack of diversity in its nominations, specifically the lack of women directors nominated.  Still, Porter believes the historic wins for the Korean film Parasite are a sign of progress. 

"We have to remember it's not just dark people who are minorities," he said. "I was like Oscars not so white after all. Parasite won Best Picture, that's the first time that a foreign film has ever won Best Picture. That's a big deal," Porter continued. 

While the Academy may have shown signs of progress, those left behind also need the support of global leaders.

Citing Clorox as an example, he said, "It takes leaders like that in this world to align with people like me to show the world it's about humanity, it's about respect for everybody's humanity."

On the topic of respect, Porter will appear in an episode of Sesame Street next season while wearing the iconic tuxedo dress that he wore to the 2019 Academy Awards. 

While many viewers are accepting of Porter's guest stint on the kids’ show, the episode has already received some backlash for "pushing" the "LGBTQ lifestyle."

Despite the negativity, Porter responded by emphasizing love, friendship, kindness, and inclusivity in an Instagram post that featured a photo of him on the set. 

"You combat hate with love, and it's hard. It's not always easy," he said. "I don't generally respond to things like that online, but I had to just to make sure that everybody understood"  

Along with starring as the Fairy Godmother, or “Fab G,” in Sony’s upcoming live-action remake of the fairy tale Cinderella, Porter will also be directing the FX series Pose in Season 3, with shooting already underway, and he says it will be "explosive." The show is set in the 1980s during the height of the AIDS crisis in New York City. 

"I'm just so grateful that I've lived long enough to see the day where these types of stories are being told by the people who lived them. It makes it clear why I survived. I survived and I get to tell this story now for the people and all of my friends who did not," Porter said.

More In

Actor Billy Porter on Cleaning as Self-Care and Hollywood Progress

Emmy winning actor and soon to be "Fairy Godmother" Billy Porter has taken Hollywood by storm. When he is not slaying red carpets or starring in the FX series Pose, he is taking time to practice more self-care.

No more stories