Who can forget Harry Styles' historic Vogue cover released at the end of 2020? Well...Billy Porter certainly hasn't.
In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, Billy Porter spoke up against Vogue for choosing a "straight white man" wearing a dress for the cover of the magazine in December 2020. The actor condemned that choice, stating that the opportunities for him as a Black gay men were grim compared to cis straight white men.
"I feel like the fashion industry has accepted me because they have to," Porter said.
Indeed, success came late for the actor. During the interview, Porter shared that after his Broadway debut at the beginning of the '90s, he had to declare bankruptcy by 2007.
Thanks to the hit series Pose, however, his world turned upside down for the better and he was able to win a prestigious Emmy Award. At every red carpet, Porter always challenged society's conventions around gender, wearing skirts and dresses....
"I was the first one doing it and now everyone is doing it. I created the conversation and yet Vogue still puts Harry Styles, a straight white man, in a dress on their cover for the first time."
.... But that choice was not only made for fashion purposes: it was to make a statement. And a political one.
"I had to fight my entire life to get to the place where I could wear a dress to the Oscars. All he has to do is be white and straight."
The actor, however, wanted to clarify that he had no intention whatsoever to judge Styles for his decision of participating to the Vogue shoot.
"I'm not dragging Harry Styles, but... He doesn't care, he's just doing it because it's the thing to do. This is politics for me. This is my life."
At the time of the interview, Styles had shared his love for wearing clothes that made him feel comfortable and free.
"I think if you get something that you feel amazing in, it's like a superhero outfit. Clothes are there to have fun with and experiment with and play with."
The singer is currently on his Love On Tour for his second studio album "Fine Line" and hans't yet replied to Porter's comments. The Emmy winning actor is busy as well with the launch of his memoir "Unprotected," (which comes out October 19th) and the release of the new single "Children."
It was a night to remember. With red carpet clashes, dazzling performances, and big winners, the 2021 MTV VMAs played out Sunday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Despite the pre show antics between UFC fighter Conor McGregor and artist Machine Gun Kelly, the 38th annual award show was hosted by Doja Cat and continued without a hitch. Here are the winners from the big night.
Video of the Year
WINNER: Lil Nas X: "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" – Columbia Records
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion: "WAP" – Atlantic Records
DJ Khaled ft. Drake: "Popstar" (Starring Justin Bieber) – OVO / We The Best / Epic Records
Doja Cat ft. SZA: "Kiss Me More" – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records
Ed Sheeran: "Bad Habits" – Atlantic Records
The Weeknd: "Save Your Tears" – XO / Republic Records
DJ Khaled ft. Drake: "Popstar (Starring Justin Bieber)" – OVO / We The Best / Epic Records – Directed by: Julien Christian Lutz aka Director X
Taylor Swift: "Willow" – Republic Records – Directed by: Taylor Swift
Travis Scott ft. Young Thug & M.I.A: "Franchise" – Cactus Jack / Epic Records – Directed by: Travis Scott
Tyler, The Creator: "Lumberjack" – Columbia Records – Directed by: Wolf Haley
Best Cinematography
WINNER: Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, SAINt JHN, WizKid: "Brown Skin Girl" – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records – Cinematography by: Benoit Soler, Malik H. Sayeed, Mohammaed Atta Ahmed, Santiago Gonzalez, Ryan Helfant
Billie Eilish: "Therefore I Am" – Darkroom / Interscope Records – Cinematography by: Rob Witt
Foo Fighters: "Shame Shame" – Roswell Records / RCA Records – Cinematography by: Santiago Gonzalez
Justin Bieber ft. Chance The Rapper: "Holy" – RBMG / Def Jam – Cinematography by: Elias Talbot
Lady Gaga: "911" – Interscope Records – Cinematography by: Jeff Cronenweth
Lorde: "Solar Power" – Republic Records – Cinematography by: Andrew Stroud
Best Art Direction
WINNER: Saweetie ft. Doja Cat: "Best Friend" – Warner Records – Art Direction by: Alec Contestabile
Beyoncé, Shatta Wale, Major Lazer: "Already" – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records – Art Direction by: Susan Linns, Gerard Santos
Ed Sheeran: "Bad Habits" – Atlantic Records – Art Direction by: Alison Dominitz
Lady Gaga: "911" – Interscope Records – Art Direction by: Tom Foden, Peter Andrus
Taylor Swift – "Willow" – Republic Records – Art Direction by: Ethan Tobman, Regina Fernandez
Best Visual Effects
WINNER: Lil Nas X: "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" – Columbia Records – Visual Effects by: Mathematic
Bella Poarch: "Build a Bitch" – Warner Records – Visual Effects by: Andrew Donoho, Denhov Visuals, Denis Strahhov, Rein Jakobson, Vahur Kuusk, Tatjana Pavlik, Yekaterina Vetrova
Doja Cat & The Weeknd – "You Right" – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records – Visual Effects by: La Pac, Anthony Lestremau, Julien Missaire, Petr Shkolniy, Alexi Bailla, Micha Sher, Antoine Hache, Mikros MPC, Nicolas Huget, Guillaume Ho Tsong Fang, Benjamin Lenfant, Stephane Pivron, MPC Bangalore, Chanakya Chander, Raju Ganesh, David Rouxel
Glass Animals: "Tangerine" – Republic Records – Visual Effects by: YSF Studio Paris
P!nk: "All I Know So Far" – RCA Records – Visual Effects by: BUF, VFX Supervisors: Dominique Vidal & Geoffrey Niquet, VFX Producers: Annabelle Zoellin & Camille Gibrat
Best Choreography
WINNER: Harry Styles – "Treat People With Kindness" – Columbia Records
Ariana Grande – "34+35" – Republic Records – Choreography by: Brian Nicholson & Scott Nicholson
BTS – "Butter" – Bighit Music – Choreography by: Son Sung with BHM Performance Directing Team
Ed Sheeran – "Bad Habits" – Atlantic Records – Choreography by: Natricia Bernard
Foo Fighters – "Shame Shame" – Roswell Records / RCA Records – Choreography by: Nina McNeely
Now that the COVID-19 vaccine is widely available, more and more artists and organizations are requiring proof of vaccination to attend concerts, events, and other social gatherings. Harry Styles is the latest star to require proof of vaccine along with other protocols for his latest tour.
Styles, who postponed his 'Love On Tour' last year due to COVID-19, is taking further precautions to ensure fans have a fun, safe time at the show. The British singer took to social media to announce the new policy, along with what fans can expect from it.
On Wednesday, Styles shared that fans will be required to either show proof of vaccination or provide a negative COVID-19 test 48 hours before entry along with wearing a mask. He shared:
"...Please know our band and crew will be taking every possible precaution to protect each other so we can bring the show to everyone who wants to attend and we ask that you do the same…"
Last Month, Styles announced the dates and locations for the US leg of the tour, citing that COVID-19 policies would be in place for his fans.
LOVE ON TOUR will be going out across the USA this September and I could not be more excited for these shows. As al… https://t.co/jxGYVFz8Xv
'Love On Tour' will kick off at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on September 4th, 2021.
Styles also addressed international fans last month, saying:
"To everyone in the UK and across the world, I can't wait to see you again, but for obvious reasons it is just not possible at this time. I will be sharing more news soon about shows across the globe and new music. I love you all so much. I'm excited and I can't wait to see you.
To everyone in the UK and across the world, I can’t wait to see you again, but for obvious reasons it is just not p… https://t.co/dmxfTnNjqM
Song of the Year nominations include Olivia Rodgrio's #1 single "Driver's License, 24k Golden's "Mood", Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak's "Leave the Door Open", Dua Lipa's "Levitating", "WAP" by Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B, and "Dynamite" by BTS.
The nominations for Video of the Year include "WAP", "Popstar" by DJ Khaled and Drake, "Kiss Me More" by Doja Cat and SZA, "Bad Habits" by Ed Sheeran, "Save Your Tears" by The Weeknd, and "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" by Lil Nas X.
Justin Bieber takes the lead with a whopping seven nominations, including Best Pop, Best Collaboration, and Best Editing for his single "Peaches", as Giveon secures the same nominations. Bieber and Drake are both nominated for Best Direction for "POPSTAR." Finally, Bieber's song "Holy" featuring Chance the Rapper is up for Best Cinematography.
Megan Thee Stallion trails closely behind him with six nods. She and Cardi B are also both up for Best Collaboration, and Best Hip Hop for WAP. Megan's "On Me (The Remix)" is also up for Best Hip-Hop.
Billie Eilish, BTS, Doja Cat, Drake, Giveon, Lil Nas X, and Olivia Rodrigo all secured five nominations total.
Eilish's "Therefore I Am" is up for Best Pop and Best Cinematography, while "Your Power" is up for Best Direction and Best Video for Good. Her collaboration with Rosalia, "Lo Vas A Olvidar", is nominated for Best Latin.
"Butter" by BTS is up for Best Pop, Best K-Pop, Best Choreography, and Best Editing.
Doja Cat is coming in with Best Art Direction and Best Visual Effects for "Best Friend", while she and SZA also secures nominations for Best Collaboration with "Kiss me Adore", as SZA is also nominated for Best R&B for "Good Days".
Drake is also up for Best Collaboration and Best Hip Hop for "Laugh Now, Cry Later" and Best Editing for "What's Next".
Giveon's other nomination includes Best R&B for "HEARTBREAK ANNIVERSARY".
Lil Nas X's platinum single, "Montero (Call me By Your Name)" secured more nominations for Video for Good, Best Direction, Best Art Direction, and Best Visual Effects.
"Driver's License" by Olivia Rodrigo is also nominated Performance of the Year, while "good 4 u" is up for Best Pop.
24kGoldn, Dua Lipa, and Taylor Swift have also secured four nominations.
24kGoldn's "Mood" has also been nominated for Best Collaboration, while "Coco" is up for Performance of the Year.
"Prisoner" by Dua Lipa is also up for Best Collaboration and Best Editing, while "Una Dia" for Best Latin.
For Taylor Swift, "Willow" is nominated for Best Pop, Best Direction, and Best Art Direction.
Anderson Paak, Bruno Mars, Ariana Grande, Beyonce, Ed Sheeran, and Foo Fighters all have three nominations under their belt.
Anderson Paak and Bruno Mars are also separately nominated for Best R&B, and Best Editing for "Leave the Door Open".
For Grande, "positions" is up for Best Pop, while "34+35" is up for Best Choreography.
"BROWN SKIN GIRL" by Beyonce has been nominated for Best R&B and Best Cinematography, while "ALREADY" is up for Best Art Direction.
"Bad Habits" by Ed Sheeran has also secured nominations for Best Art Direction and Best Choreography.
"Shame Shame" by Foo Fighters is up for Best Rock, Best Choreography, and Best Cinematography.
Other Best Rock nominations include Evanescence for "Use My Voice", John Mayer for "Last Train Home", The Killers for "My Own Soul's Warning", Kings of Leon for "The Bandit" and Lenny Kravitz for "Raise Vibration". Best Alternative nominations are "Heat Waves" by Glass Animals, "Stop Making This Hurt" by Bleachers, "Follow You" by Imagine Dragons, "my ex's friend" by Machine Gun Kelly, "Shy Away" by twenty one pilots, and "t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l" by Willow Smith.
Other notable nominations include but are not limited to "Treat People with Kindness" by Harry Styles and "Wonder" by Shawn Mendes for Best Pop. Madison Beer's "Selfish" is also up for Performance of the Year, while Travis Scott, Young Thug, and MIA's "Franchise" has been nominated for Best Hip-Hop and Best Direction. "LUMBERJACK" by Tyler the Creator is also up for Best Direction. Lady Gaga's "911" and Lorde's "Solar Power" are also up for Best Cinematography, while Coldplay's "Higher Power" and P!NK's "All I Know So Far" are up for Best Visual Effects. Video for Good nominations include "Dancing with the Devil" by Demi Lovato, "Fight for You" by H.E.R, and "Entrepreneur" by Pharrell Williams and Jay-Z.
The 2021 MTV Video Music Awards will be held at the Barclays center in Brooklyn and will air Sunday, September 12th at 8pm EST.
