People
Tomi Lahren Claims Billy Porter, LGBTQ People Attacked Masculinity
The Fox News correspondent is fearful for the future of "traditional" masculinity, claiming that it under siege from the "Left."
May 31 2023 7:41 PM EST
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
The Fox News correspondent is fearful for the future of "traditional" masculinity, claiming that it under siege from the "Left."
Fox News correspondent Tomi Lahren flipped oppressor and victim when she went after LGBTQ people for allegedly "attacking" traditional masculinity in a pair of tweets reacting to Pose's Billy Porter sporting a tuxedo gown on the Oscars red carpet Sunday.
\u201cI just don\u2019t get this ongoing and continual assault on masculinity by the Left. \n\nYou can be a proud part of the LGBT community and movement without attacking traditional men and marriage at every turn.\u201d— Tomi Lahren (@Tomi Lahren) 1551125618
Twitter users were quick to drag Lahren, who appears on a pair of shows on the network's streaming service Fox Nation, for her comments about masculinity. But Lahren, who's renowned for making purposeful controversial statements, doubled down on her hot take that "traditional" men are under siege.
\u201cYes, men are now wearing dresses on the red carpet to stick it to masculinity. Welcome to Lala Liberal Award Show season 2019. \n\nNew Final Thoughts on FoxNation. https://t.co/opWIvfBP5U\u201d— Tomi Lahren (@Tomi Lahren) 1551139355
The button-pushing Lahren's previous outrageous statements include comparing Black Lives Matter to the KKK, mocking the student survivors of the Parkland shooting, and referring to Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy as a "little limp dick."
While Lahren says that "traditional" masculinity is under attack, Porter, who is gay, spoke out about how homophobia and repressive ideas about what it means to be a man forced him to remain in a kind of fashion closet.
"I grew up loving fashion, but there was a limit to the ways in which I could express myself. When you're black and you're gay, one's masculinity is in question. I dealt with a lot of homophobia in relation to my clothing choices," Porter wrote on Vogue's website. "[Even] when I had my first working contract at A&M Records, I was silent for a long time. I was trying to fit in to what other people felt I should look like."
\u201c#PoseFX star @theebillyporter slays in a tux dress on the #Oscars red carpet https://t.co/Z0q00nEoz6\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1551043797
Porter also confirmed that his choice to where the Christian Siriano-designed tux gown was intended to "challenge" the status quo considering what he's endured as a gay man of color.
"Now I'm in a space where, being on Pose, I'm invited to red carpets and I have something to say through clothes," Porter said. "My goal is to be a walking piece of political art every time I show up. To challenge expectations. What is masculinity? What does that mean?"
In addition to Porter's boundary-pushing gown, RuPaul's Drag Race star Shangela walked the red carpet in full drag.
Here's how Twitter users responded to Lahren claiming that masculinity is under attack.
\u201c@TomiLahren Or they're wearing dresses cause....they like wearing dresses?\n\nRegardless of the reason, if masculinity itself wasn't the fragile construct that it is, it wouldn't be concerned or bothered by this.\u201d— Tomi Lahren (@Tomi Lahren) 1551139355
\u201c@TomiLahren Tell me how this affects YOU personally. In a sentence, Tomi.\u201d— Tomi Lahren (@Tomi Lahren) 1551139355
\u201c@TomiLahren Are you shitting me with this? It\u2019s the right attacking their own young boys for not being masculine enough. Threatening to drown them. It\u2019s the left that is okay with their son learning to wear make-up, not because they may or may not be gay one day, but because they light up.\u201d— Tomi Lahren (@Tomi Lahren) 1551125618
\u201c@TomiLahren There is no "assault" on masculinity. The real assault happens every day, on thousands of LGBTQ+ people across the world. You're so quick to pretend like you're under attack, when our people are literally being MURDERED for being who they were born to be. Shut up, Tabby.\u201d— Tomi Lahren (@Tomi Lahren) 1551125618
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!