E! Online·United States·Friday, September 11, 2026 at 07:02 PM

Billy Porter Shares Update After Near-Fatal Sepsis Battle

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Adrianna Fletes

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…

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.

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.

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