Reluctant idol heads Down Under
For such a titan (pun intended) in the world of porn, French-Arab TitanMen performer François Sagat seems reluctant to be thought of as simply a porn star.
Speaking to Sydney Star Observer ahead of his trip Down Under, the hard-bodied hunk was at pains to stress he has a life beyond porn.
“Porn activity remains very small in my schedule. It’s 15 percent of my life, and my real fans know it, and try to get an interest beyond my porn movies.
“It’s more motivating [to me] if a fan supports my porn career but also all the other things I’m doing.”
Perhaps so, but there’s no denying that the men who attend Sagat’s public appearances in Australia will do so because of his impressive roles in X-rated titles like Folsom Filth and Shacked Up.
Sagat’s appearances are being billed as ‘performances’. Presumably the muscle-bound stud won’t be busting out a song or juggling, so what exactly can fans expect?
“They can expect something more erotic than ‘porny’, and certainly not something raunchy because that’s simply not my style. I don’t want to show an obscene and provocative image. They will see hard dick maybe, but it won’t mean it’s vulgar,” he insisted.
“I’m better at doing a very sensual striptease. They’ll see my personal touch for sure, because I’m really involved in my shows. I do everything — I choose the music, the background video, the outfits.”
Or lack thereof. The trip will be Sagat’s first time in Australia, and he said he had no expectations of our culture, or our men.
With his distinctive grey-shaded skull tattoo, donned after thinning hair made his head look ‘too long and disproportional’, he’s arguably gay porn’s most recognisable player, so flying under the radar may prove difficult.
“I get recognised at the supermarket or at the airport, even when I’m hiding my head with a hat.
“The weirdest moment was on Halloween, when I covered my entire body, face and tattoos with black tape. I was walking in the street like a black mummy and I heard some strangers screaming, ‘FRANCOIIIIIS SAAAAAGAT!’ It’s very annoying.”
Sagat’s Australian visit is sponsored in part by ACON and Victoria’s VAC, who regularly enlist porn stars to deliver their safe-sex messages. He said he admired his fellow performers who took the time to campaign about HIV prevention.
“Matthew Rush, Steve Cruz, Francesco D’Macho… most of my ‘work partners’ did many things to get involved in HIV prevention.
“[But] porn stars also make big mistakes, representing safe-sex studios for a while and then ruining everything by participating in bareback movies. That’s sad, because those irresponsible studios are taking advantage of them, ruining their image.”
Asked what he thought was the most important safe-sex message he could impart, Sagat kept it simple.
“I’ve filmed myself putting on a condom with a full hard-on. That’s the most powerful message we can send nowadays.”
info: Sagat appears at a VIP cocktail party at the Oxford Hotel on Thursday, March 4, and at Saddle Bar and the Den on Friday, March 5. Visit www.titanmen.com.au
The sex-based events that our community organisations do NOT support and host are things that Asquith never gets to hear about. What if the events that get supported were only 1% of the events that are proposed? What if 10%? What if 50%? To write ALWAYS in capitals is plainly wrong. Asquith has a blinkered view that ignores the work of ACON (as an example) in minimising harm among IV drug users.
Asquith is entitled to have an opinion that striptease is pornography, and there’s no need to denigrate the work of our community organisations to offer that opinion. However, it would be wise to consider that the first language of Francois Sagat is not English, and the finer points of semantic distinction between words may not be as evident to everyone.
I’m so sick of our community organisations ALWAYS supporting and hosting events that are based on sex (especially ACON), it seems we have to bask ourselves in sex sex sex to get attention and collect money!
“I’m better at doing a very sensual striptease. They’ll see my personal touch for sure, because I’m really involved in my shows. I do everything — I choose the music, the background video, the outfits.” – If this the “other things he does besides porn” than I’m confused, sensual striptease with music and outfits?? it’s still pornographic darlz –
you’re not just a pretty face now are ya??
Yeah, I like to see my porn stars with condoms. Unprotected sex is completely immoral to me. Peter, speak for yourself only like Brad said.
peter, please don’t volunteer to speak for ‘most gay men’. You speak for yourself, and your opinion does not match mine.
I for one would prefer to see the man for whom Francois is bottoming wearing a condom.
And to Mike, if it takes a porn star to get the safe sex message into someone’s brain, then ACON is spending their money wisely. Prevention is a more cost-effective use of resources than “direct assistance or services”; the former may make the latter unnecessary.
no doubting that most gay men prefer him performing without a condom!
So ACON sees fit to spend the money they get from the Government to prevent HIV/AIDS to “sponsor” a porn star. Sorry, wouldn’t that money be better used for direct assistance or services? I’m sure the gay men who work at ACON are applauding themselves for this decision, at the expense of those living with HIV/AIDS. Utterly Shameful.