Billy Porter wore a motorised hat at the the 62nd annual Grammy Awards ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, USA on Sunday, January 26. EPA
Billy Porter wore a motorised hat at the the 62nd annual Grammy Awards ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, USA on Sunday, January 26. EPA
Billy Porter wore a motorised hat at the the 62nd annual Grammy Awards ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, USA on Sunday, January 26. EPA
Billy Porter wore a motorised hat at the the 62nd annual Grammy Awards ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, USA on Sunday, January 26. EPA

Fashion

Grammys 2020: Billy Porter wore a motorised hat and sparked the best memes

'Me blocking negativity like...'

Farah Andrews
Farah Andrews
Dubai

January 27, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Billy Porter has been dominating the red carpet with eye-catching, headline-grabbing looks this awards season: but the actor raised the bar for the 2020 Grammy Awards when he wore a shimmering blue bodysuit and bolero by Scott Studenberg for Baja East, which was topped off (literally) with a motorised crystal curtain hat by Sarah Sokol Millinery.

The hat and its bejewelled fringe were remote controlled and opened and closed at the click of a button, giving Porter plenty of opportunities to serve his signature side eye, as the tassels exposed or hid his face.

"Such an incredible honour to be part of this Grammys look with Billy Porter," Sarah Sokol Millinery wrote on Instagram. Adding that Smooth Technology had engineered the fringe.

Billy Porter's meme appeal 

Naturally, the look has prompted hundreds of incredible memes from fans on Twitter. The majority are quips or reflections on life as an introvert, avoiding awkward public situations. Others play off the outfit's undeniable sass, while a couple riff off getting food from a drive through, which is always relatable content.

Here are a few of our favourite Billy Porter at the Grammys-inspired memes: 

1. 'Per my last email'

2. Curtain twitcher  

3. The hat closes for these fools 

4. Pass the popcorn 

5. Oh to be a fly on that wall 

6. Gelato trumps grumpiness  

7. Rhinestones would certainly improve the Maccas experience   

8. Cancelled 

9. 3, 2, done... 

10. Fast forward

11. More McDonalds content 

12. Tentative 

13. Every single time. 

_________________

Read more:

Seoul Town Road, tributes and Lizzo's flute: top Grammys moments

Grammy Awards honour Kobe Bryant with touching performance

Grammys 2020: all the looks from the star-studded red carpet

_________________

Motori Profile

Date started: March 2020

Co-founder/CEO: Ahmed Eissa

Based: UAE, Abu Dhabi

Sector: Insurance Sector

Size: 50 full-time employees (Inside and Outside UAE)

Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing 

Investors: Safe City Group

While you're here
UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

Read more from Mina Al-Oraibi
Herc's Adventures

Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5

While you're here
While you're here
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000

Engine 3.6L V6

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm

Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km

Indoor cricket in a nutshell

Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai

16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership

Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.

Zones

A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full

THE SPECS

Engine: 3.6-litre V6

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 285bhp

Torque: 353Nm

Price: TBA

On sale: Q2, 2020

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

FashionEnergyInstagramGrammys 2025