Billy Porter Fans Send Him Love as He Shares He Must Sell Home Amid Strike
Billy Porter's fans rally around the Pose alum after he shared the news of having to sell his house amid the SAG-AFTRA strike.
In a new interview with The Evening Standard, the actor—who is an Oscar away from being an EGOT winner—made sure to express that he supports the strike and plans to "join the picket lines" once he's back from London, noting that the "the business has evolved. So the contract has to evolve and change. Period."
However, Porter also expressed that though his fans may think that being out of work won't impact him as someone who appears to be rich with a net worth of $5 million, having his career as an actor at a standstill has its financial challenges.
"I have to sell my house," he revealed, "because we're on strike." He added, "I don't know when we're gonna go back [to work]. The life of an artist, until you make f--k you money—which I haven't made yet—is still check-to-check. I was supposed to be in a new movie, and on a new television show starting in September. None of that is happening."
The 53-year-old then referenced a Deadline article which included a quote from an unnamed Hollywood executive speaking on the WGA strike, noting, "So to the person who said 'we're going to starve them out until they have to sell their apartments, you've already starved me out."
Fans and TV writers alike voiced their support for him on social media, explaining that the fact that a big star like Porter is struggling financially shows how flawed the industry is.
"I’m sorry but an artist like Billy Porter SHOULD be making F You money. And that’s kind of the problem," tweeted Jen Vestuto, who worked as a writer on CW's Nancy Drew.
Someone wrote on Twitter, "Billy Porter has to sell his house because CEOs are greedy mfers that don’t want to help out struggling workers."
A fan applauded Porter for speaking out, tweeting, "I am so happy Billy Porter spoke about the fact that he does NOT make f*ck you money. Even though he got more talent in his pinky toe then his peers. Billy Porter been in the industry for decades but it wasn't until more recently where he truly made it the [sic] mainstream and still."
Another fan agreed, writing, "The hate folks spewing in the comments to Billy Porter alarming, like everybody isn't a paycheck away from being homeless. Do you all not see where the economy is? Cost of living is high af. Show empathy. The battle is with big corps not with your ppl fighting for their rights."
Luckily, unlike other industry creatives who are fully out of work during the strike, Porter will have some financial boost from his upcoming album, The Black Mona Lisa.
