- Pose star Billy Porter attended his first Met Gala with Ryan Murphy in 2019.
- He dressed as a golden pharaoh at the “Camp: Notes on Fashion”-themed gala.
- The Tony winner reveals he hasn’t been invited back to the coveted fashion event since his first appearance seven years ago.
Billy Porter is a legend in his own right. The actor made waves thanks to his role on Pose in the 2010s and has since become a Tony winner and a certified fashion icon, thanks in part to his viral entrance at the 2019 Met Gala. Here are some pics—which, honestly, don’t fully do this moment justice—in case you need a refresher:
It’s been a minute since Billy has graced the Met steps, and according to the multihyphenate, he won’t be making a return this year, either.
“I haven’t been invited back since 2019,” Billy said while visiting SiriusXM’s Bevelations show on Tuesday, April 22. He clarified that he had attended as Ryan Murphy’s guest that year, when the gala was themed “Camp: Notes on Fashion.”
“That’s the only time I’ve ever gone and the only time I’ve ever been invited, and I was invited by Ryan Murphy that year,” Billy said before admitting that his absence at last year’s event particularly stung, given the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” theme.
“Last year was Black dandyism, and I was not invited, I’m just going to throw that out there,” he continued. “The reality is, when people ask me, you need to know I was not invited and I don’t go to places where I’m not welcome.”
He later emphasized that he’s “all good” after the snub, as he’s done “inner work” to not feel disappointed.
“I’ve earned the invitation, and it’s okay that I don’t have it because there’s a level that I’ve reached that doesn’t require validation from the outside,” he explained. “So, I’m going to sit and live in that because it helps keep me sane, too.
In 2024, Billy skipped the high-profile event as he was grieving the death of his late mother at the time.
“I just lost my mom,” Billy told E! News at the time. “I have to take care of myself, so I’m doing that. And that means not going to the party sometimes.”
Hoping we get to see a stunning look from this fashion icon soon enough.
