'Art saved my life': Billy Porter opens up about his sexual abuse

Award winning actor and singer Billy Porter talks to CNN's Chris Wallace about overcoming abuse and trauma at the hands of his stepfather.
#chriswallace #WhosTalking #CNN #News

[@sn07]

“There’s nothing worse than failing as somebody else” Powerful words.

[@yourgrace3377]

Not at all, Karen

[@rebeccadolashewich7094]

So powerful..

[@ms.demeanors]

@Gill Munchen then don't do it

[@yourgrace3377]

@@rebeccadolashewich7094 Of course you’ll fail as someone else, because you’re not someone else. You’re a phony. “ So powerful “ Lol you’re a genius lol 😂

[@josephmwesigye3746]

repent

[@NotToday2255]

I am not a gay man... But I found Porter's story truly incredible!

[@anthonyboarman3833]

Glad you're straight man.

[@worldbossdetroit827]

You're gay

[@amiakins1444]

There is nothing Worse Billy. Thank you for shining your light on this world.

[@GranDio311]

Just goes to show that he's a bad performer that nobody got into.

[@regal9242]

quit tripping, the guy is a pawn in the Illuminati game and leading the youth astray

[@MsMoniSoNYC]

I saw him sashaying down 40th street across from Bryant Park not to long ago. He looked FABULOUS!!! Glad he has the courage to share his story 🙏🏾 💙

[@gettingannoyedquick]

I think the worst part about sexual abuse especially for children is a lot of people think its the creepy guy with a trench coat or the suspicious person at the supermarket but more times than not its someone you know that ends up doing. They see your trust as an opportunity to use in their sick fetish not caring their actions even done once has caused permanent damage to that child for the rest of their life.

[@AirBahg]

" i didnt know it was abuse until i was 25 years old " that hit me like a brick

[@perrinfan]

Billy...I send you hugs. We survivors understand. God bless you. The more you are authentically you, the happier I am. You give me and others courage.

[@Rexy366]

Mr Porter is another level of influence. Everytime he speaks he breaks it down in way it makes sense to us when you hear it. Thank you Billy for your Gift. Blessing to you everlasting ❤❤❤

[@yourgrace3377]

You 2 should get a room

[@parkerbolt4233]

Every time I hear these stories of sexual abuse I get so damn angry! 😡

[@teetot5276]

It’s so sad.

[@curlsladycurlsladyVenice]

I was molested by a step man when I was a kid. I refuse to call him stepfather, he’s far from, he was a monster who physically abused me as well.

[@teetot5276]

Sad that happened to you, he was a demented pervert.

[@looneygardener]

My heart breaks for him.

[@joannebattersby8365]

I first saw him in Pose. I was blown away by the art and humanity of the series - as a dressmaker and costumer I have lost friends in this community. Mr. Porter is talent and human empathy and honesty personified.

[@lauriegates5856]

Billy Porter you really have a very beautiful voice. Sing it loud and sing it proud. I pray you have a wonderful life.

[@joerogain5025]

Chris Wallace's talent was wasted over at Fox 🦊 Faux NEWS & Entertainment and I'm glad he's emerged from the dark side.

[@valencia108]

The most artistic and talented people are usually surviving via their art. I applaud his strength in telling his story and wishing him continued success and healing. Porter is a great talent.

[@sarahogawa5408]

Such an important interview! So much courage and strength. Thank you!

[@bookgirlny8511]

I love Billy Porter. Such a talent ❤️

[@GranDio311]

So brave to put on a dress and walk around. 🥱

[@dougcrawford6967]

I can relate to so much of his story. Really respect his honesty and openness. And to all of the trolls who are making nasty comments, what happened to you that you became so self-righteous and cruel?

[@paleriedove3333]

What trolls ? Haven't read not one negative comment!! All the trolls must've rolled !!!🙄

[@yourgrace3377]

We’re sick of joemo’s lol that’s what, itch!

[@anacc3257]

"The reason why our country is in the mess we're in is simply because of whiteness. White supremacy. White people choke-holding power and sucking the life out of humanity." When there are recent quotes like this out there targeting a group of people based on their race, why do you expect people to give unilateral praise?

[@13thJurorVote]

His level of knowing himself and his place in the world is higher than most people walking on this planet. He let his purpose Rule his life instead of trying to rule his purpose and that is when he became successful. An authentic person living his purpose.

[@wintermonroe2894]

🎯

[@september9113]

To all the trolls on here that are taking time to criticize each and every positive comment. Please find something else to do. Take your hate somewhere else. Billy you are someone who was able to overcome all the challenges that you faced because you used your talent to create a safe place for you to heal. I applaud you ☺️

[@gettingannoyedquick]

These people are cowards and if their loved ones knew the kind of stuff they posted they would be disgusted with them

[@karyherndon4266]

You never knew what the AIDS crisis was back when -they had no idea -why so many people were dying of HIV infections. (I was in my thirties then ..and I encountered a gay couple -who moved into the house in the empty apartment next to mine.) They had a badly needed lawnmower. So -I watched out for them -as I met them -then I’m the late 1980’s in southern Texas. (One of them had a bad HIV infection, then and was dying there in front of everybody on my block, which was a normal neighborhood then. (Nowadays, there are good treatments for this virus and -yet it still kills people worldwide.) Gifted performer and Broadway Star-Billy Porter is a gay artist shining a light on his own personal experience with this situation. 💙☮️💜Have a heart. Try this out.

[@anacc3257]

Many like to praise the new medications as a harmless solution to the virus, but no, the medications has terrible side effects and must be taken for the rest of a person's life. It's still better for everyone to avoid the behavior that causes it.

[@gabewilsonlovelightharmony8843]

There is nothing worse than failing as somebody else.❤❤❤

[@zeldasmith6154]

When you take someone else's name legally or spiritually, you become someone else. When you join an organization, you have to become someone else.

[@dr.killmoretreeratologist8848]

Billy is the COOLEST! He's suffered so much, yet he's still so full of Love. Is THIS all of the interview? I want to see MORE. I can never get enough of Billy Porter. 💜

[@GranDio311]

Just more proof that this behavior comes from emotional problems.

[@dr.killmoretreeratologist8848]

@@GranDio311 😂 YOUR "expert" opinion, Joe? Who'd you "blo" to get that nickname?

[@GranDio311]

@@dr.killmoretreeratologist8848 typical background that most of these people have. Emotional problems stemming from abuse or trauma. Btw, how often do you think that trope is used. Your very unoriginal but then it's expected.

[@jaco3394]

I know nothing about Billy Porter other than a couple of red carpet looks but I'll sure buy his book after this interview. I like how you can tell that these two come from completely different backgrounds but there's respect between them. Great interview.

[@hattie24able]

I applaud Billy Porter for being able to be so transparent about his life experiences.

[@nonaboccalupo7733]

The older generation has so many stories, they don’t talk about it. Young people don’t want to hear it. Now it’s starting to repeat! Smh

[@elizabethstranger3461]

I am listen to Billy Porter's autobiography and I cried when I read this part of the book, I have cried and laughed and been made wiser by "Unprotected" I would suggest everyone read it.

[@meloneymoore5102]

As an music entertainer, motivational speaker, published creative writer and my spiritual clairvoyant abilities, All Of It Helped Me to Save My Own Life. I also had no safe haven growing up through the age of 46 and I still don't. But now I alone have stood out publicly and creatively Alone. Yet, now I am slowly gaining tons of support that I never thought I'd have.

[@mikewatson7612]

Congrats to you as well!!

[@johnbrown4949]

We know this. We know there is trauma in the lgbtq community that is not being addressed in any way.

[@joannebattersby8365]

"My voice was my savior." Never was a truer word spoken. I recently went to a primary school to teach singing for the xmas concert. The first question I asked - " how many children sing at home ?" None. " How many sing to themselves? None. This is so shocking to me- my kids and I sang everywhere all the time. Folks come up to me while I am singing to myself in stores or wherever and ask fir songs lol. I had 4 elderly men come and stand with me while their wives were shopping and they whistled along- they were in a Glee Club.! Sing , damn you !! Sing!!. It is vocalizing and you may not be saying the words that give you pain but you are SINGING damnitt. And by golly , Billy Porter SINGS!!!!

[@hope2bhelpful95]

I like his honesty and ability to report on what was his reality with laughter and having survived and overcome his circumstances.

[@deborahmiller9227]

Art may save your life But christ will save your soul

[@TabethaAurochs]

"There is nothing worse than failing as somebody else." That didn't hit metaphorically. That hit was visceral - I flinched but still felt the sting when the truth struck - and as I'm writing this 20 mins later, I feel eviscerated. How many queer people are still playing the game, with the hope that one day they'll find that safe space? How many are playing WITHOUT that hope? And how many queer people might not be playing The Game - but instead of playing our way, we walked out of the casino and never went back? We stop playing anything at all - stop dreaming, stop creating - and remove ourselves - our voices, our stories - from the world entirely. We're tired. We missed the window. We don't know how to be the person who can say what needs to be said, do what needs to be done, to be who we need to be. We no longer harbor the illusion that any of it will matter or even be heard, so we delude ourselves into thinking that there's no point to creating, to doing, saying, being, TRYING. Which is bullshit - we know how much power there is in the truth. Billy's truth hit me and that shit did not feel like a kiss. It's enough to change everything, maybe even if we are our only audience.

[@AlwaysAwesome001]

You're an odd babbling pedoGoon. 🧐

[@violajackson-folkes4795]

Thank You for saying the things I couldn’t say until I was grown. My mom knew it and LOVED ME ANYWAY!!!! This gave me more power to be me than anything else in my entire life. Just the fact that she loved me in my chosen Uniqueness was enough for me and for my brother.RIP MOM,I WILL ALWAYS LOVE AND ADORE YOU.❤️💋

[@iahorvath]

Dear Billy, congratulations to you for your success and for coming to the realization that one only finds happiness when one is true to oneself.

[@vintagechild4418]

I love him and his truth! His truth will help a lot of children and young adults struggling with identity.

[@sandeepmukherjee8045]

LOVE BILLY !!!!

[@bernarddodd9788]

We all have worth and beauty, but sometimes the angels live among us. Such power, such insight, such compassion, acceptance. This interview, will never leave my soul. Thank you.

[@cynthiacopland8634]

God bless & protect children from people with good intentions ♥️♥️♥️

[@looneygardener]

Fabulous interviewer.

[@avis9544]

As I child growing with my abusive voilent dad, and no mother. I would b sexual abused by sometimes his friends and family. I was the only girl. When I did tell my dad. I got the blame at age 6. I was told that I made it happen that I flirted with this man and got a good ass woop on top of it all. When my dad left me to stranger's after he came out my life. The abuse continued. I had no protector's or mother. So in my family I was the shame of the family the disgrace for something that wasn't my fault. The abuser was never held accountable 😢 so I had to carry that all my life. It took me 6o years of my life to stop really thinking I was the problem. To take back my power from all of them, even family who never defended me. I use to want to kill my self jus to stop the pain. Then I would remember that little girl in me who had no one to defend her, but me. So I decided to defend her to b her voice. To love her. To heal.

[@deborahmiller9227]

Still he must repent

[@yamarisB]

Amazing actor and thank u for your work and u r a hero

[@icausedbidenflation9999]

😆 🤣

[@cavewhitey8798]

Amazing actor??? He's far from a Will Smith or a Denzel Washington. You must be an immigrant.

[@npcfredo2225]

*A HERO IN WHAT REALITY!!!!*

[@yamarisB]

@@icausedbidenflation9999 I have seen he's movies and shows on Netflix as well and they always have a real life story and brilliant . Take the time to see it instead of bombing what people write you might learn a thing or 2.

[@bookgirlny8511]

He’s great! 🥰

[@laurischoolmarm]

Terrifying.

[@Mmmkay10]

LOVE BILLY PORTER SOOOOOOO MUCH ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@liannedoherty4816]

I just started watching POSE because I saw another interview with Billy Porter! He is an exquisite, beautiful, talented human being! The shows characters have made me fall in love with all of them! BILLY: I love you!

[@lizardchosimbastedanko5195]

Chris’s talent was wasted at faux

[@swifstart_7777]

I’m sick of this guy.

[@Carolina_girl86]

You and me both.

[@LizaFan]

And?

[@Carolina_girl86]

@@LizaFan and what?

[@maeshellewest-davies7904]

Sooooo true! In changing to succeed and not making it, the most heartfelt failure is the changing.

[@michelecherek5392]

It's crazy af.... when you are a male CHILD abused by a male ADULT and show homosexual tendencies, the CHILD is penalized. Thisnis a man touched by GOD with his gifts, REGARDLESS!!!

[@looneygardener]

Amazing human

[@yourgrace3377]

Yeah right lol

[@BangNeenaWill]

This was heavy 😢

[@yourgrace3377]

This is heavy 🍆

[@kym3883]

🙏 Thank you for sharing your art and your truth 💗 You are an inspiration 🙏 Thank you, thank you, thank you ..

[@diane9247]

The only thing wrong with this is that it's about two hours too short! Could you get to work on that, Billy? 🤗💐

[@traceywillis63]

This is so powerful

[@Officially.Lashay]

Dont fail as someone else

[@sylviabyrnside7262]

I love you, Billy Porter!!❤😢

[@tanyasharadamba1264]

Truth speaker 🔊

[@JaneDoe-em7zi]

Omg I love Fab G!!! 🤗🥰 Keep speaking out Billy!!! Men please don't be afraid to talk about being victimized by sexual assailants!!! You are not alone!!!

[@claudiascott6484]

In essence he lived in a household of women. Back then people would stigmatize young children especially boys if they did not catch on to sports, like to fight, etc., with the boy was a sissy. Then being sexually manipulated as he states, made what happened to him seem normal. I see how anyone would grow up traumatized, and confused about one's sexuality. By GOD'S grace Mr. Porter has become a very sought after gifted entertainer.

[@houstonconservative1776]

I'll shut up..I actually love this interview

[@nenej12]

That scene WAS ONE OF THE BEST THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE RUN OF THE SHOW!

[@erniesings6855]

Billy is incredibly articulate and intelligent

[@Carolina_girl86]

He’s certainly changed since his early days back in 1997.

[@s.e.hebert7307]

That was sofascinating! So many moments were just brilliant.

[@johnbrown4949]

Sorry brother, we love you anyway.

[@9ethersoul]

Lost soul gone to tha dogs 😭😭💀💀💀

[@anthonyboarman3833]

I think there are a lot of gay men trying to play it straight.

[@beller8501]

It saved my life too💛💓

[@wavveytae4181]

Ok Chris I see you love to see it 🤟🏾🤟🏾💯💯

[@marshawhite2670]

He’s a great unsung artist

[@icausedbidenflation9999]

😆 🤣

[@bookgirlny8511]

He’s amazing.

[@yourgrace3377]

You’re high lol

[@michelecherek5392]

NO, BILLY!!! YOU WERE GREAT at it!!! And STILL ARE!!! YOU GO, BOY!!❤️‍🔥🎶❤️‍🔥🎶❤️‍🔥🎶❤️‍🔥🎶❤️‍🔥

[@SalemGurl8701]

Sex lessons? Then when you told him to stop he stopped? You didn’t know it was abuse until 25?🤔🤔 Interesting

[@teetot5276]

Its always step parents that are sick perverts

[@mikewatson7612]

This snippet ALONE will make Me go read his book!! He’s an intriguing man. And I GET Billy Porter!! Congrats for Living in ya TRUTH UNAPOLOGETICALLY! ❤️❤️

[@chrisalfonso5982]

Powerful!

[@veronesewilliams7897]

Yes they are scared. So Sad....

[@Youngblackamericansfortrump.]

Alcohol saved mine

[@elana137]

Billy porter straight is a no 😅

[@pheakofficial1232]

So perfic sound👍❤️️

[@Africangyal]

This man is crying out for help

[@navidhaghighi3390]

🤢🤢

[@horseygurl143]

Lovin' Billy's hair!

[@eyoung1683]

Its all so sad.

[@altagracebrown8492]

Love you Billy so proud of you

[@connectingthedots100]

😢

[@alansnipes3101]

Sadly, Billy Porter perpetuates stereotypes about what gay is and what women are supposedly like. These are demeaning and degrading to women and gay men.

[@beller8501]

Hes the speaker of this generation

[@Carolina_girl86]

Lord help this generation

[@semyonbudyonny1895]

Call me “homophobic”, but never call me late for lunch.

[@yvonneplant9434]

This is so weird that Chris Wallace would even want to be in the same room with Billy Porter.

[@wwm2022]

❤

[@journeymansmitty8283]

Sometimes some of us have to go through anger and pain to shape how we really are and who we're going to be later on🤔

[@yourgrace3377]

Maybe some of you are bottoms lol

[@miwako872]

#MAHABAD # FREEIRAN HEADLINE IT CNN

[@rebeccadolashewich7094]

#MeToo✨🕊💖🕊✨

[@theenlightenedexchange4817]

♥

[@Vantom_a238]

This isn't newsworthy who cares.

[@EamonKelly]

So why did you click on this and leave a comment?

[@user-tg2db4pc3q]

Billy p

[@houstonconservative1776]

Chris Wallace.. you are better than this

[@theenlightenedexchange4817]

He has big legs look at God's work

[@deniseeugene1852]

Direct correlation between homosexuality and sexual Abuse as a child. As well as eating disorders and hyper sexualized behavior in children.

[@boni_traxton9436]

I’m gay an never expierinced any of that

[@presidentbiden561]

she looks cute

[@paleriedove3333]

And ur so cute to girl!!! Byeeee