Billy Porter Shares Update After Near-Fatal Sepsis Battle

Billy Porter Shares Update After Near-Fatal Sepsis BattleBilly 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.comDascha PolancoAt the Bad Binch TONGTONG afterparty at the Balloon Museum on Sept. 10.Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Christian SirianoBrandy & Billy PorterAt the Christian Siriano fashion show on Sept. 10.MATTHEW BORKOWSKI/BFAKaylor Martin & Kayda BosseAt the LoveShackFancy fashion show on Sept. 10.Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Tory BurchAmanda SeyfriedAt the Tory Burch fashion show on Sept. 10Stephanie Augello/WWD via Getty ImagesLisa RinnaAt the Michael Kors fashion show on Sept. 10.Giovanni Giannoni/WWD via Getty ImagesEmily RatajkowskiWalking in the Tory Burch fashion show on Sept. 10Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Tory BurchPadma LakshmiAt the Tory Burch fashion show on Sept. 10Victor Pagan/Getty ImagesGigi HadidWalking in the Tommy Hilfiger fashion show on Sept. 10.Victor Pagan/Getty ImagesRomeo BeckhamWalking in the Tommy Hilfiger fashion show on Sept. 10.Michael Loccisano/Getty Images Diane von Fürstenberg & Anna WintourAt the Diane von Furstenberg fashion show on Sept. 10.Nina Westervelt/WWD via Getty ImagesJoey King, Hudson Williams & Caleb McLaughlinAt the BVLGARI "Serpenti Infinito" Celebration on Sept. 9.Michelle Kammerman/BFA.com/ShutterstockKatie HolmesAt the opening night of Target by Design on Sept. 9.Carl Timpone/BFA.com/ShutterstockVenus WilliamsAt the opening night of Target by Design on Sept. 9.Carl Timpone/BFA.com/ShutterstockChloë SevignyAt the opening night of Target by Design on Sept. 9.Kelsey CherryCarole Radziwill & Hari NefAt the launch of MZ Wallace's New York Icons campaign on Sept. 9.Mike Vitelli/BFA.com/ShutterstockDelilah Belle HamlinAt ALO's New York Fashion Week celebration on Sept. 9.Mike Vitelli/BFA.com/ShutterstockAmelia Gray HamlinAt ALO's New York Fashion Week celebration on Sept. 9.Mike Vitelli/BFA.com/ShutterstockWinnie HarlowAt ALO's New York Fashion Week celebration on Sept. 9.Weston KloefkornAva DashAt Hunter Boots and Page Six's New York Fashion Week dinner on Sept. 9.Dominik Bindl/Getty ImagesBrigette Pheloung & Danielle Pheloung At the Cult Gaia fashion show on Sept. 9.Dominik Bindl/Getty ImagesHelena Christensen, Iman, Katie Holmes & Jason Bard YarmoskyAt the Cult Gaia fashion show on Sept. 9.Dominik Bindl/Getty ImagesLukas Gage & Madelyn ClineAt the Cult Gaia fashion show on Sept. 9.Zimo De VeraValentina FerrerAt the Cult Gaia fashion show on Sept. 9.Dominik Bindl/Getty ImagesJosh HeustonAt the Cult Gaia fashion show on Sept. 9.Hannah Turner Harts/BFA.com/ShutterstockB.J. NovakAt the Best in Show runway presentation on Sept. 9.Hannah Turner Harts/BFA.com/ShutterstockKaren ElsonWalking the Best in Show runway presentation on Sept. 9.Hannah Turner Harts/BFA.com/ShutterstockNatasha LyonneAt the Best in Show runway presentation on Sept. 9.Ryan C SidesNicky HiltonHosting 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.Gilbert Flores/WWD via Getty ImagesRachel Brosnahan & Elizabeth Debicki At the Ralph Lauren fashion show on Sept. 9.ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty ImagesAriana DeBoseAt the Ralph Lauren fashion show on Sept. 9.For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App