Billy Porter revealed he’s making major financial cuts to make it through the ongoing Hollywood strike.
“I have to sell my house,” the “Pose” star recently told the Evening Standard.
Porter went on to explain that the major financial decision is due to the current strike of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA), which began May 2 and July 14 respectively.
“I don’t know when we’re gonna go back. The life of an artist, until you make f—k you money — which I haven’t made yet — is still [check-to-check],” Porter added.
The former Broadway star shared he was supposed to work in an upcoming movie and a TV show in September, but “none of that is happening” now.
“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.”
Porter’s comments were in reference to rumors that executives would “allow things to drag on until union members start losing their apartments and losing their houses,” per Deadline.
In his interview, Porter also blasted Disney CEO Bob Iger for claiming that WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikers were not being “realistic” with their demands.
“The business has evolved,” Porter, 53, said before noting the industry has changed due to streaming services becoming a main source of income for media giants.
“So the contract has to evolve and change, period. To hear Bob Iger say that our demands for a living wage are unrealistic? While he makes $78,000 a day?”
“I don’t have any words for it, but: f—k you,” he simply said.
“[But] that’s not useful, so I’ve kept my mouth shut,” Porter, who has been staying in London for the summer, added.
“I haven’t engaged because I’m so enraged… When I go back I will join the picket lines.”
Porter’s need to move out of his home comes one month after he and his husband, Adam Smith, called it quits following six years of marriage.
“I can confirm that Billy Porter and his husband Adam Smith have made the sad decision to end their marriage after six years,” Porter’s rep, Simon Halls, told People.
“The decision was an amicable and mutual one and was made after much consideration. They continue to love and support each other as they embark on this next chapter.”
