Actor and singer Billy Porter has withdrawn from his scheduled performance at Manchester Pride after falling ill, organisers have confirmed. Porter, 55, is renowned for his Broadway performances in shows such as Kinky Boots and for his role in the acclaimed drama series Pose. He had been due to perform at the Mardi Gras event on Saturday but was forced to cancel at the last minute.
++ Kemi Badenoch slams councils over removal of St George’s cross flags
A statement on Manchester Pride’s Instagram page read: “We’re sad to share that Billy Porter will no longer be able to perform at Mardi Gras today due to illness. We know many of you were looking forward to their set as much as we were. Get well soon, Billy – we hope you have a speedy recovery.”
Despite Porter’s absence, the event will still feature over 120 artists performing across six stages throughout the weekend, including former Little Mix member Leigh-Anne Pinnock, singer Olly Alexander, and pop star Nelly Furtado. Special guests will also include rapper Big Freedia, singer Tulisa, DJ Paulette, author Gok Wan, Welsh drag queen Tayce, and DJ Jodie Harsh.
++ GPT-5 launch marks a significant step in AI evolution, but raises questions
Porter has received three Emmy nominations and won the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2019 for his portrayal of Pray Tell in Pose. Manchester Pride, which began on 15 August, will run until 25 August, with parades, parties, and performances taking over the city to celebrate LGBTQ+ life and culture.
