Thirstrapping: Post-'Pose,' Out Hunk & Social Media Star Johnny Sibilly Moves Forward

On "Pose," out hunk Johnny Sibilly played Billy Porter's bf Costas, who died of complications of AIDS in the hit show's first season. And while he only appeared briefly in FX hit's second season and may or may not be seen it on its final one (which recently finished shooting), he could never underestimate its importance in his life.

In a tweet last month, he wrote: "Pose gave me a massive opportunity & changed my life. It's changed many lives & conversations. Sad to see it end but happy it's shifted the queer & television landscape. I'll be tuning in for the final dip. You should too"

And since the show, he has seen his career (and Instagram account) grow. Last summer he was picked to host "Logo TV's Logo Live digital series. The show is a "live rundown of the day's trending stories with celebrity guest interviews" according to a media alert and will stream on Logo TV's Instagram, reports Out Magazine last June. More recently Variety announced Sibilly is joining the cast of yet to be unnamed HBO Max comedy series being led by Jean Smart as one of eight recurring guest stars. "Variety has learned that the show has cast two series regulars and eight recurring guest star roles. The single-camera comedy series explores a dark mentorship that forms between Deborah Vance (Smart), a legendary Las Vegas comedian, and an entitled, outcast 25-year-old (Hannah Einbinder)."

Looking back at his role on "Pose," Sibilly told Gay Times: "Playing a Latinx man dying of the AIDS virus was important to me on many levels. Growing up, you'd hear of a queer family member dying of AIDS, but that was it – there was no backstory, no indication about this person's humanity. Playing Costas with Billy Porter as Pray Tell reminded me to give the side many families either neglected to see or were unable to. These two men only had each other, they fought for one another, and knowing that many of my queer forefathers had to do this made me feel that much more of a responsibility to try and bring that humanity to the role. It's for all the Costas and Pray Tells of the world, either gone or living."

He also acknowledged what he calls his "pinch me moments" from the show: "When Ryan Murphy gave me his stamp of approval I had to take a seat and process it for a moment. I've looked up to this man for years because of his work and what he's done for queer representation. I'm still not over it. Having a scene partner and onscreen love like Billy Porter was all I could ask for. His generosity was plentiful, and his talent knows no limits. I've read Janet Mock's work for years and I got to fall in love with her storytelling, but this time I was in her hands. Lastly, the day before shooting my first episode I got a message from Pose's creator Steven Canals telling me that he'd been following my work on social media for years and he was happy I was part of the production. Reading that will always mean more to me than I think he knows because it validated me in the eyes of a fellow queer person of colour, and also validated my hard work that led up to this amazing opportunity."

Siberry grew up "a Cuban Dominican military kid on the move – Germany, Texas, Miami – always knowing he would pursue acting," wrote the LA Blade in a 2018 interview. Since then he has pivoted between New York and LA and famously appeared as Susan Lucci's pool boy on Discovery ID's Deadly Affairs and played a drag queen on "Law & Order: SVU," and now "Pose." "I love the juxtaposition of playing uber-masculine types and super-feminine roles," he told a reporter for IT-Film.

Asked about his coming out experience, Siberry recalled: "I've been out since I was in high school. I think my mom was the hardest to tell because she's always been the most important person in my life so the stakes were always much higher when coming out to her."

"I'm gonna sing a song from one of my favorite artists, Mr. Donny Hathaway and I'd like to dedicate it to the love of my life, Mr. Costas Perez," said Pray Tell (Billy Porter) before singing "For All We Know," a standard from the 1930s Hathaway had covered in the 1970s. Watch it below:

Check out these IGs from Siberry's account: