Billy Porter has spoken frankly about a terrifying health crisis in 2025, revealing he developed sepsis and ended up in intensive care fighting to survive.
The 56-year-old star first shared news of his condition in September after he abruptly had to withdraw from a performance of Cabaret.
At the time, reports said Porter was suffering from a “serious case” of sepsis — a potentially fatal medical emergency that can occur when the body’s response to an infection begins damaging its own tissues and organs.
He was subsequently advised to rest and keep a low-key schedule for several weeks, which meant stepping away from the stage while he recovered.
Now, in an appearance on TS Madison’s Outlaws podcast, Porter has described just how critical the situation became, and what initially triggered the cascade of complications.
He explained that the issue was discovered during what should have been a routine appointment with his primary care provider, when doctors found that a kidney stone “was trapped in [his] urethra.”
“When they got in there, there was so much puss, and bile, and infection behind the stone. It bubbled up and I went uroseptic in minutes,” he shared.
Urosepsis is a severe form of sepsis linked to an infection in the urinary tract, which can spread upward and affect the kidneys if not treated in time.
Porter said the infection became so aggressive that his immune response spiralled, causing his body to essentially turn on itself rather than solely targeting the underlying infection.
Within hours, his condition deteriorated to the point that he was placed on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine — a form of life support that temporarily takes over the work of the heart and lungs for patients experiencing catastrophic organ failure.
“I was dead for three days. I am a miracle. I’m a walking miracle,” Porter said.
After he stabilized enough to be taken off ECMO, he was told he had developed compartment syndrome in his leg — a dangerous situation where swelling increases pressure inside the muscles and restricts blood flow and oxygen.
“So they had to cut me open on either side of my leg while I was in a coma, and from my knee to my hip, and leave it open for two days, so they could save my leg,” he said, adding, “I am so grateful to be here. It is such a gift.”
Coming so close to death, Porter said, has left him with a deeper gratitude for being alive and has influenced how he wants to live and work moving forward.
“As I sat in my hospital bed, reflecting, there were a couple of things I heard. The first thing I heard was: Work smarter, not harder. The second thing I heard was: Be obedient and answer the call. And the third thing I heard was: Don’t you ever stop telling the truth again. I unconsciously silenced myself for fear that I wouldn’t be on the A-list anymore,” he said.