Billy Porter clapped back at critics who object to his appearance on the children’s educational TV series Sesame Street.
Porter lashed out at social media users who argue that there are some things children should not be exposed to – and a man in drag is one of those things.
Social media users expressed their outrage after Porter announced he’ll be appearing on the show in the dress he wore to last year’s Oscar Awards.
The Pose actor, who is a vocal member of the LGBT+ community, is renowned for his flamboyant style and red carpet attire, which includes dresses and feathers – lots of feathers.
Porter, 50, will wear the black Christian Siriano tuxedo gown on an upcoming episode of the popular children’s show later this year.
Critics, including the state senator of Arkansas, Jason Rapert, tore into Porter on Facebook, asking “Do you approve of your taxpayer dollars being used to promote the radical LGBTQ agenda?”
Rapert called for the end of taxpayer support for Sesame Street, a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) series which critics say has become a progressive child-indoctrination program.
A petition circulated to have the episode pulled and even accused the program of trying to “sexualize children using drag queens.”
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.”
Porter concluded: “Stay out of my bedroom and you will be fine — that is none of your business.”
But critics point the finger of blame at the LGBT+ community’s highly sexualized and sexually immoral behavior during public spectacles such as Pride parades.
Kevin Clash, Sesame Street puppeteer and longtime voice of beloved puppet Elmo, resigned in 2012 at age 50, after several young men came forward and accused him of sexual misconduct when they were teenagers.
