The Brief: Billy Porter walked the Grammys red carpet in a bejeweled blue hat with a motorized moving shade, inspiring dozens of memes.
DEEP DIVE
Billy Porter hat memes come from his show-stopping Grammys getup. At the 2020 Grammy awards, Pose star Billy Porter turned heads with his outfit: a blue crystal jumpsuit and a blue brimmed hat equipped with mechanically opening and closing silver fringe. The jumpsuit was designed by Scott Studenberg of Baja East. Sarah Sokol designed the hat with mechanical components engineered by Smooth Technology, the same company behind Janelle Monae’s Met Gala look.
Get on my nerves, and the curtain closes! 😂 Living for my lewk styled by @sammyratelle with a custom design by @scottstudenberg of @bajaeast and featuring a custom hat by @sokolmillinery & mechanically engineered by @SM00TH_TECH. pic.twitter.com/GsCY09aNzc
— Billy Porter (@theebillyporter) January 27, 2020
As soon as videos of Billy Porter’s Grammys hat were posted online, memes began to emerge about its ability to hide or show one’s face to the public. Jokes pose situations in which someone comes out of hiding to get free food, hear hot gossip, flirt, or flex their prowess.
Me: I hate drama
Also me when there’s drama: pic.twitter.com/sCyKFgnzZK
— Sam Stryker (@sbstryker) January 27, 2020
John Bolton: Why should I save my country from a tyrant?
Book publisher: There’s money in it.
John Bolton: pic.twitter.com/hv0WfKOKtc
— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) January 27, 2020
Me, showing up to the 3rd grade knowing I can read at a college level. pic.twitter.com/VnN2ODkGrJ
— Solomon Georgio (@solomongeorgio) January 27, 2020
Me when I hear there’s pizza in the conference room
pic.twitter.com/pZLwJtz5x9— Ariel Dumas (@ArielDumas) January 27, 2020
Me: I can’t go out, I’m trying to save money this week
Friend: wanna go to happy hour?
Me:
pic.twitter.com/1bPdx0Fzaw— dunc city (@whduncan) January 27, 2020
As Billy Porter is a prominent gay public figure, these memes were particularly popular in LGBTQ+ online communities.
Porter’s resemblance to a lamp didn’t go unnoticed either…
On my way to steal your man. And your furniture. Because I’m hiding in plain sight in your living room. pic.twitter.com/gtuB6rHwzP
— Marcella Arguello (@marcellacomedy) January 27, 2020
Me once Beyoncé gets up to use the bathroom leaving her laptop open thinking I was just a lamp pic.twitter.com/OZyhiP9Zwv
— Yoncé Vocals (@YonceVocals) January 27, 2020
More Grammys Outfit Memes
Porter’s hat wasn’t the only awe-inspiring or meme-inspiring Grammys look. Tyler, The Creator’s Grand Budapest Hotel-inspired look was met with memes about emotional baggage. Looks sported by Lil Nas X, Billie Eilish, Lizzo, and Ariana Grande, among others, drew attention for their elegance and extra-ness.