The 56-year-old actor, singer and Broadway star first disclosed in September 2025 that he had been diagnosed with sepsis, forcing him to abruptly withdraw from the Broadway production of Cabaret. At the time, representatives said Porter was dealing with a serious illness and needed several weeks of rest.
Now, the Pose star is sharing shocking details about what really happened.
Kidney Stone Triggered Sudden Infection
Speaking during a March 2 appearance on the Outlaws podcast hosted by TS Madison as part of iHeartMedia’s Outspoken Podcast Network, Porter explained that a routine doctor’s visit quickly turned into a medical emergency.
Doctors discovered that a kidney stone had become trapped in his urethra.
“When they got in there, there was so much pus, bile and infection behind the stone,” Porter said. “It bubbled up and I went uroseptic in minutes.”
Urosepsis occurs when a urinary tract infection spreads to the kidneys and bloodstream, triggering a dangerous whole-body infection.
Placed on Life Support
Porter said the infection progressed so rapidly that doctors had to place him on an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machine, a life-support system that helps the heart and lungs function when they can no longer work properly.
“I was dead for three days,” he said. “I am a miracle. I’m a walking miracle.”
While Porter was in a coma, doctors discovered another serious complication — compartment syndrome in his leg.
Emergency Surgery While in Coma
Compartment syndrome occurs when swelling increases pressure within the muscles, cutting off blood flow and oxygen. To prevent permanent damage, surgeons had to perform emergency surgery while Porter was unconscious.
“They had to cut me open on either side of my leg from my knee to my hip and leave it open for two days so they could save my leg,” he explained.
Despite the trauma, Porter said he feels incredibly grateful to have survived.
“I am so grateful to be here. It is such a gift,” he said.
A Life-Changing Experience
The near-death experience has significantly changed how Porter approaches life and his career.
While recovering in the hospital, he said he reflected deeply on his future.
“The first thing I heard was: work smarter, not harder,” Porter said. “The second thing was: be obedient and answer the call. And the third was: don’t ever stop telling the truth again.”
He added that he had previously held back parts of himself out of fear it might affect his status in the entertainment industry.
Health Journey and Recovery
Porter has previously been open about several personal health struggles. In 2021, he revealed that he had been living with HIV since 2007, a diagnosis he kept private for 14 years due to stigma and fear of discrimination.
He has also spoken about living with Type II diabetes and post-traumatic stress disorder linked to the AIDS crisis of the 1980s.
Despite those challenges, Porter says advances in treatment have allowed him to maintain an undetectable viral load, and he considers himself “the healthiest he’s ever been.”
Road to Recovery and Return to Work
Porter shared an update on his recovery in December 2025 through an Instagram video, describing the previous four months as “very, very challenging.”
However, he reassured fans that he was steadily recovering.
“I want everybody to know that I am on the road to a full recovery,” he said at the time.
Now back in public life, Porter has already returned to work. He recently led an industry presentation for a revival of the play The Little Dog Laughed and is set to appear in the upcoming film The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.
He is also developing and starring in a long-planned biopic about author James Baldwin.
Through his experience, Porter now hopes to raise awareness about serious infections like sepsis and continue using his platform to speak openly about health, survival and resilience.
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Billy Porter
