Billy Porter breaks silence on childhood struggles in new book

Billy Porter, award-winning actor, singer and fashion icon who is known for his bold presence on screen and stage, has poured his heart into a new children’s book. 

The Pose star recently revealed that the process of writing Songbird in the Light brought back deep and difficult memories from his own childhood.

The Emmy and Tony-winning star shared that his first idea for the book was based on being bullied as a child. 

He explained, “My original version of this book was called Rockhead Bill because when I was a kid, for a couple of years, my head grew larger than my body, and I got made fun of a lot.”

He added, “There was a lot of trauma in my childhood, and so when I tried to sit down and start writing... the inciting incident is somebody throwing a rock at my head. Kids can be the worst.”

Billy soon realised that the original version was too intense for young readers. However, he then brought in author Chris Clarkson and illustrator Charly Palmer to help him reshape the story.

The final book Songbird in the Light, tells story of a boy who finds strength in his singing after he was teased and bullied by classmates. 

Billy said, “My voice is my saviour, the gift from on high. It’s my weapon, it’s my solace. It’s my peace. It’s my hope. It’s my joy. When I was a kid, it was all of those things. The reason why I’m alive is because I could sing.”

Apart from the book, Billy recently launched his makeup brand Black Mona Lisa and he hopes that it can grow into full fashion and lifestyle label. 

He shared, “But I also want Black Mona Lisa clothes, shoes and cookware.”

"What I’ve learned from being out with my younger friends is that there are no letters; there are no rules. It’s freeing and it’s fun; it’s authentic. This is my authentic self, and I didn’t even know it," Billy Porter explained.