Billy Porter Shares Update After Near-Fatal Sepsis Battle
Billy Porter detailed his recovery from his near-death experience with sepsis in an exclusive E! News interview at the Christian Siriano NYFW show, noting, “I’m back in my pumps, b---h."
By Olivia Evans, Adrianna Fletes Sep 11, 2026 7:03 PM | Updated 3 hours ago
Billy Porter Shares Update After Near-Fatal Sepsis Battle
Billy Porter feels good to be back.
After a minor infection turned into a terrifying sepsis ordeal that left the Pose star in a coma, he shared how it felt to be back in his element nearly a year later.
“I was on my death bed for three days in a coma on an ECMO machine,” Porter told E! News’ Keltie Knight in an exclusive interview at Christian Siriano’s NYFW show Sept. 10. “Coming out of that, I’m a whole new person. I feel like I was always on the right path but even more so now.”
Indeed, Porter—who sat front row at the show alongside Brandy, Evan Rachel Wood and Tiffany Haddish—emphasized he’s putting all ten toes down into the strut he calls life.
“The things I believe in,” he explained. “How I show up, it’s even more grounded.”
Despite the terrifying near-death experience, Porter admitted it felt “overwhelming” to receive such support and love throughout his year of recovery.
“It also reminds me of the humanity of the human spirit,” he noted. “A lot of horrible things are going on right now and it’s been so inspiring to know that love does conquer evil. It really, really does.”
The 56-year-old couldn’t fathom the well wishes he received.
“People from all over the world—strangers who just send me messages of prayer and good will and ‘get better,’” he mused. “It’s just healing. It’s been remarkable.”
Meanwhile, the Cinderella actor was thrilled to make his grand return at NYFW, specifically for Siriano’s Spring 2027 show, sporting a grand pink checkered coat created by the Project Runway alum himself—along with sparkly Christian Louboutin heeled boots.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Christian Siriano
“I went to my fitting with Christian and you know, he’s my muse, I’m his muse,” Porter detailed. “He’s like, no pants, show the leg.”
Moving his coat to reveal a massive scar that spread from his calf to his thigh, the Emmy winner noted his look put yet another health battle victory on display.
“I’m showing the leg because I had compartment syndrome and that’s when the muscles close in on themselves so I had to have an emergency fasciotomy to save my leg,” Porter shared. “And I’m back in my pumps, b---h. I have legs for days and I’m back in the pump.”
For more stars who stepped out at NYFW, keep reading…
Matt Borkowski/BFA.com
Dascha Polanco
At the Bad Binch TONGTONG afterparty at the Balloon Museum on Sept. 10.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Christian Siriano
Brandy & Billy Porter
At the Christian Siriano fashion show on Sept. 10.
MATTHEW BORKOWSKI/BFA
Kaylor Martin & Kayda Bosse
At the LoveShackFancy fashion show on Sept. 10.
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Tory Burch
Amanda Seyfried
At the Tory Burch fashion show on Sept. 10
Stephanie Augello/WWD via Getty Images
Lisa Rinna
At the Michael Kors fashion show on Sept. 10.
Giovanni Giannoni/WWD via Getty Images
Emily Ratajkowski
Walking in the Tory Burch fashion show on Sept. 10
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Tory Burch
Padma Lakshmi
At the Tory Burch fashion show on Sept. 10
Victor Pagan/Getty Images
Gigi Hadid
Walking in the Tommy Hilfiger fashion show on Sept. 10.
Victor Pagan/Getty Images
Romeo Beckham
Walking in the Tommy Hilfiger fashion show on Sept. 10.
Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Diane von Fürstenberg & Anna Wintour
At the Diane von Furstenberg fashion show on Sept. 10.
Nina Westervelt/WWD via Getty Images
Joey King, Hudson Williams & Caleb McLaughlin
At the BVLGARI "Serpenti Infinito" Celebration on Sept. 9.
Michelle Kammerman/BFA.com/Shutterstock
Katie Holmes
At the opening night of Target by Design on Sept. 9.
Maynard Villaflores/BFA
Braxton Berrios
At the Atlas New York Fashion Week kick-off dinner on Sept. 9.
Carl Timpone/BFA.com/Shutterstock
Venus Williams
At the opening night of Target by Design on Sept. 9.
Carl Timpone/BFA.com/Shutterstock
Chloë Sevigny
At the opening night of Target by Design on Sept. 9.
Daniel Rahal
Morgan Riddle
At the Atlas New York Fashion Week kick-off dinner on Sept. 9.
Kelsey Cherry
Carole Radziwill & Hari Nef
At the launch of MZ Wallace's New York Icons campaign on Sept. 9.
Mike Vitelli/BFA.com/Shutterstock
Delilah Belle Hamlin
At ALO's New York Fashion Week celebration on Sept. 9.
Mike Vitelli/BFA.com/Shutterstock
Amelia Gray Hamlin
At ALO's New York Fashion Week celebration on Sept. 9.
Mike Vitelli/BFA.com/Shutterstock
Winnie Harlow
At ALO's New York Fashion Week celebration on Sept. 9.
Weston Kloefkorn
Ava Dash
At Hunter Boots and Page Six's New York Fashion Week dinner on Sept. 9.
Dominik Bindl/Getty Images
Brigette Pheloung & Danielle Pheloung
At the Cult Gaia fashion show on Sept. 9.
Dominik Bindl/Getty Images
Helena Christensen, Iman, Katie Holmes & Jason Bard Yarmosky
At the Cult Gaia fashion show on Sept. 9.
Dominik Bindl/Getty Images
Lukas Gage & Madelyn Cline
At the Cult Gaia fashion show on Sept. 9.
Zimo De Vera
Valentina Ferrer
At the Cult Gaia fashion show on Sept. 9.
Dominik Bindl/Getty Images
Josh Heuston
At the Cult Gaia fashion show on Sept. 9.
Hannah Turner Harts/BFA.com/Shutterstock
B.J. Novak
At the Best in Show runway presentation on Sept. 9.
Hannah Turner Harts/BFA.com/Shutterstock
Karen Elson
Walking the Best in Show runway presentation on Sept. 9.
Hannah Turner Harts/BFA.com/Shutterstock
Natasha Lyonne
At the Best in Show runway presentation on Sept. 9.
Ryan C Sides
Nicky Hilton
Hosting a New York Fashion Week kickoff event with Flabelus x PARIS/64, where she gifted guests special pieces from her theo grace jewelry brand, on Sept. 9.
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