Billy Porter has hit back at anti-LGBT campaigners who were horrified that he appeared on Sesame Street whilst wearing a dress.
Over 47,000 angry people – as well as a Republican State Senator – signed a petition that demanded the episode be withdrawn from air.
The prominent gay actor, who went on the hit show wearing the glamorous tuxedo dress that he’d previously donned at the Oscars, shut the angry viewers down.
“If you don’t like it, don’t watch it,” he told Page Six in response.
“Like, what about me singing with a penguin [on the show] has anything to do with what I’m doing in my bedroom?” the Pose star snapped back.
Conservative viewers were angry that the 50-year-old actor had appeared on the show wearing the iconic tux-dress which had been designed by Christian Siriano .
The offended viewers claimed he was traumatising children by wearing the outfit on the popular kid’s show.
-
Grammy Awards 2020: Most outrageous red carpet looks from political to near naked
-
American Music Awards glitz, glam and pizza hats as stars hit red carpet
A petition was then circled online titled: “Parents demand Sesame Street remove show with drag queen," as they attempted to get the episode removed from airing.
The petition attacks cross-dressing as a ‘disorder’ and suggests the show is being sexualised.
"The long-running children’s program is one of the latest mainstream institutions to try to sexualize children using drag queens. And, parents are fed up." the petition jibes.
-
Mariah Carey hotly tipped to headline Brighton Pride for staggering six-figure fee
The State Senator of Arkansas, Jason Rapert, also fumed about the episode and even threatened to use his political influence to get the program off their screens.
“Taxpayer dollars being used to promote the radical LGBTQ agenda,” the politician raged.
“I can pass a bill to cutoff all funding for the rebroadcast of PBS programming through AETN and also stop all funding for AETN altogether if necessary.”
-
Janelle Monae feared death in terrifying mercury poisoning ordeal sparked by diet
Contrary to the frustrations of the petition, the award-winning broadway actor is not a drag queen and has been hailed as bringing gender non-conforming people into the forefront.
Known for pushing the boundaries, Billy slayed his red carpet appearance at last year’s Oscars, where the Kinky Boots star debuted his now-iconic velvet tuxedo dress.
Sesame Street bosses are yet to reveal in which episode Billy will be hanging out with Elmo and the rest of the kid's show cast.
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at [email protected] or call us direct 0207 29 33033
Source: Read Full Article