Billy Porter Launches Into Song at Tony Awards and Frantically Asks for Phone from Backstage to Read Speech

The actor dedicated his Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award to his late mother Cloerinda Jean Johnson Porter-Ford, who "believed in unconditional love"

Billy Porter turned a teleprompter mishap into a funny moment before his emotional honor.

During the 2024 Tony Awards' Act One pre-show on Sunday, June 16, the Pose star accepted the 2024 Isabelle Stevenson Award, first launching into song (James Cleveland's "I Don'T Feel Noways Tired") before frantically asking for his phone to read his speech.

Noting an issue with his prepared speech missing from the teleprompter, Porter said onstage, "I need my phone. Where's my speech, babies?" Looking around and signaling offstage, he said, "Somebody has my phone. Somebody has my speech. The clock is ticking!"

In his speech, Porter, 54, said he was "grateful and humbled" to be receiving the award, explaining, "I grew up in a world where they told me that who I was was not worthy of anything. So the fact that I’m standing before you is a miracle."

"I came out as gay in 1985, when I was 16 years old. And as we all know, and many of us in this room experienced, we went straight to the frontlines to fight for our lives," he continued, adding in part, "We got up in these streets and spoke truth to power and demanded our healing medications. We got up in these streets and demanded our equal rights — not just for queer people, but for all human beings, everywhere. Period."

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"As we find ourselves at another crossroads in America, a moment that will decide whether democracy lives or dies, I need to remind you all of what the late John Lewis told me: 'Never give up hope, never give into hate, and go out there and get into some good trouble,' " Porter said.

"Love always wins. It takes time, it takes grace, it takes hope, it takes patience, it takes loving kindness and compassion. And we win. When we fight, we always win."

According to an official announcement about Porter's honor, the Isabelle Stevenson Award is "presented annually to a member of the theatre community who has made a substantial contribution of volunteered time and effort on behalf of one or more humanitarian, social service or charitable organizations."

The Emmy winner is receiving the Isabelle Stevenson Award this year "in recognition of his outstanding dedication and contributions as an activist and spokesperson for the LGBTQ+ communities, including his work with The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) and the Entertainment Community Fund, among other organizations," the announcement added.

Porter continued his acceptance speech Sunday, "I’d like to dedicate this moment to my mother, Cloerinda Jean Johnson Porter-Ford, who we lost this past February. She believed in unconditional love and she instilled in my sister and I a purpose and a love greater than ourselves."

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"One of her favorite bible verses was Second Timothy, 1:7. 'For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.' Turn to your neighbor and tell him fear not! For the change has already happened. God bless y’all," he concluded.

In the Tonys' announcement about Porter's honor, Jason Laks, interim president of The Broadway League, and Heather Hitchens, president and CEO of the American Theatre Wing, said, "Billy Porter has made extraordinary contributions as an activist for the LGBTQ+ community and we are truly honored to present him with this year’s Isabelle Stevenson Award."

“He has lent tremendous time, effort and support to a variety of organizations including The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, the Entertainment Community Fund, and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, all while becoming an unstoppable force on stage, screen and beyond," they added.

The 77th Tony Awards are airing live on CBS and Paramount+.

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