It’s translated from Portuguese so it might be a little inaccurate
Interviewer: You've been on tour a lot this year. Have you been enjoying life on the road?
Troye: This European tour has been the most enjoyable.
When I was younger, I was a gay kid touring with a bunch of older, straight people. It wasn't necessarily as much fun.
Really?
I've always loved the shows, but the thing about touring is that the show is only one hour of your day, and the rest is filled with traveling and preparation. And a weird lifestyle.
How has the Sweat tour been different?
This time around, I'm touring with six dancers, and almost all of them are queer. I feel like it's like a get-together now to gossip. And that's also part of why Charli and I wanted to tour together. The idea of doing it with a friend seemed so much more fun.
And has it been fun?
It's been crazy and a lot of fun. Charli and I are obsessed with pop. And we thought a lot about pop, about what it means, and about pop culture in general.
What is the concept of the show?
I really wanted to give myself and the audience the kind of pop show that I grew up with, the dancing, the choreography. There's something really satisfying about living out that fantasy. At the end of the day, it's not two shows, it's one, and for the audience, it's a slap in the face and relentless fun.
When you're on tour, do you get to meet guys?
Sometimes. I've never been the kind of person to send security out into the crowd to find a hot person and bring them back after the show. I've never done that.
What about going out?
I love going to bars in any city we're in, especially if we're having a bad day. But the places I want to go out are also often the places where I get recognized. But if I'm with a group and, like, put on a hat and sit in the back of the club, then I can definitely have a good time. I used to act like Bubble Boy. Now I realize that makes me sad. I need to experience life on the road, too.
What about getting on Grindr?
I used to. I don't get on it anymore. Honestly, it's way, way, way more addictive than people make it out to be. I had a hard time with it. The amount of time spent versus the reward was, like, completely out of balance. So I found that the second I deleted Grindr, I was having way more sex than I ever had on it.
Do you ever DM guys on Instagram?
Instagram feels so much more human. I can see that we have mutual friends and that they're real people. Obviously, the anonymity of something like Grindr is fun, but I've found that Instagram works much better.
Have you checked out Sniffies?
I've definitely been on it, yeah.
But have you ever had sex with anyone on it?
I've been cruising on it, but I've never actively met anyone. I think it's good as a map.
Okay... So you're not afraid of a public encounter?
No. Honestly, it's more about personal safety than anything else. Like, "Am I going to get stabbed? No? Okay. That's great."
Now that you've made it clear that you're not a bottom, has that changed your dating life?
No, really. Personally, I feel more comfortable giving it to a partner that I've been with for a long time, and I've been single for a long time. For me, it's more of an act and it's never been something that I've really connected with... I feel like everyone should at least be, like, versatile in their own minds, you know? At least be open to it, I think.
How are American boys compared to Australian boys?
First of all, most Australian boys are uncircumcised.
Hot.
I only cruise in the US or when I'm traveling.
I just feel like I can blend in a bit more here. There's something about the US that really makes me feel at ease. The difference isn't necessarily between the guys, but actually within myself. My comfort level changes.
Yeah, the gay world is small, people know each other.
That's been weird for me. You know, that internal slut-shaming that everyone feels at some point. The idea that people can talk about it, that's something I've definitely had to come to terms with.
I always find it interesting that famous people are so concerned about people talking about them. And in the gay world...
I feel like everyone is famous in the gay world.
Totally.
I'm not ashamed of sex and wanting sex - or at least theoretically. Like even with cruising, for example, if someone says, "Oh yeah, I hooked up with Trove in an alley," I'd say, "Totally, he did." And that's fine with me.
Have you done anything more salacious that's gotten back to you in the gossip mill?
I don't usually reveal details of my encounters. So I expect the same respect.
Do you record or is your policy "no"
On my phone - maybe, of course. I still have to keep my wits about me.
Do you subscribe to any OnlyFans?
I'm so pissed that OnlyFans stopped accepting American Express.
I'm yelling. You don't use any other cards?
I don't have any other cards! It's annoying. So, no more. I wish they would accept, like, Apple Pay or something.
Okay. What do you feel like you want for yourself in your thirties?
There's nothing tangible that I need or want anymore. Right now, professionally, I'm just inspired by the creative process. Personally, I'm ready for some kind of settling down.
Oh, yeah?
I come from a family of six. I'm in the States now and, like, gay and all, but deep down, I'm a suburban, family-oriented kid. I would be really happy if I met someone who was willing to be in a long-term relationship and ready to start a family.
So do you think you'd have kids?
Definitely, yes.
Would you use a surrogate?
I'm open to adoption, surrogacy. Obviously, there's the vanity of like, "Oh, I wonder what my kid will look like." So, cool, yeah, those genes are still there." (laughs) I'm totally ready for any kind of situation. If I had to pin it down now, I'd start between 34 and 36.
That's when all my straight friends have kids.
I hope to have a partner by then. But even if I don't, I think I'll do it alone.
Like Andy Cohen?
I can already feel like I'm going to get bored of focusing my life on just me.
Hmm
I love, love, love what I do, but at the end of the day, I'm doing it for the other people in my life. That's one of my favorite things about coming back to Australia - the second I land there, my life effortlessly revolves around being a good friend, brother and son. That's really important to me.
That's cute. Does your family want you to have a Jewish husband?
Me being gay has taken away all the Jewish guilt. (LOL) I've never dated a Jewish guy, which is crazy. I've only had two boyfriends, and they both weren’t Jewish. And even crazier because I met my first non-Jewish friend when I was about 17.
Really?
I grew up in a Jewish community and I would love to have a non-Jewish boyfriend, and now that's it, that's just Yeah, I'm Jewish.
Oh, cool.
in your future husband that you are looking for all the love and also know that a cheater, I don't know if it's age or what, but lately I'm really attracted to intelligent people. Of course, I still want them to have good taste, which is a desire of mine. But I don't care what industry they work in anymore, as long as they are intelligent and kind.
Are you easy to fall in love with?
Lately, I feel very mature for the choice. I've been having some very strong crushes, very often. I'm not desperate, but I feel like love is imminent. I just feel very ready. A few times in the last few months, I've thought, "Oh, he's the one." But then something circumstantial gets in the way.
When I meet a guy I like, I think, "Oh, he could be my next boyfriend." Then we go out for the second time and I usually think, "This isn't right."
Yes, I recently went on a really good date and I remembered that good dates are very obvious. What made the date great? The feeling that I was learning a lot from him - which was very, very, very attractive.
Interesting. How do you define intelligent?
He knew a lot. I love learning new things. It was that feeling of, 'Wow, I could talk to this person for a long time.'
Did you have sex afterward?
Actually, we didn't, we just made out.
Do you think there will be a second date?
I hope so.
Do you feel like you'll ever want to study more?
Traditional forms of learning have never really been my thing. I never finished high school. But I'm a very curious person. In my free time, I usually read or listen to podcasts or watch long YouTube videos and documentaries. Maybe now, if I went back to school, it would be different.
Any gay authors you've read that have had an impact on you?
The one that probably broke my heart the most was this
- it sounds basic, maybe - 'Giovanni's Room' by James Baldwin. Honestly, reading depends on what I'm trying to achieve. Like, I'll read a John le Carré spy novel just to pass the time on vacation. And other times I'll read about finance.
Like, how to invest?
I mean, this is so boring, but yeah. I'm really fascinated by personal finance.
Right.
Like, I want to help people get out of debt.
That's a good idea. Help gay people get out of debt! You're not American, right? You're not voting this fall.
I'm not voting, but I'll tell you, I've never followed an election so closely.
What do you think of the crazy impact Charli made with just one tweet? "kamala IS brat." That's when I think, pop is no joke. It's all frivolous and fun, sure, and that's part of the appeal. But then she's helping to influence a presidential election...
Would you get into politics?
No, not a chance.
I could imagine you being, like, a gay Australian politician.
No, no, no, no. Honestly, I'm too dumb for that.
You think so? I think you're pretty smart.
Like I said, I'm not a scholar. But I feel persuasive. So maybe that's a good thing.
With your young following, do you feel like there's pressure to be a role model, and do you ever feel like you need to be a more accepting gay person rather than a more rowdy faggot?
If I want to be a rowdy faggot, I'll be one, period. There are ways to be both.
Were there any childhood homoerotic fantasies or pop culture moments that turned you on?
there was a lot of those, there was a lot of Degrassi
I never watched.
I had this habit of watching gay porn and then having to watch straight porn for a week to, like, balance it out.
Did you have sexual experiences with guys when you were a teenager?
Yes, but it was always secret.
Are you a gay gold star (who has never had sex with a woman)?
I've hooked up with girls with, like, heavy petting - but that's it. So, yeah, I guess I am.
Cool.
The funny thing is that this is something I still do. because all gay guys now want to be bi
Totally.
That's the vibe.
Do you like older guys? Younger ones? Does it matter?
Are we talking about dating or hooking up?
I think both.
With sex, I'm much more relaxed about age. I don't care if you're 50. Whatever. Dating, probably more like 24 to 38. I'm 29, so anything in that range feels right? Power dynamics are really hot in bed, but not in dating.
Have you ever gotten into things like role play? Bondage? Any fetishes?
I'm definitely positive about kinks/fetishes and open to trying new things. A big realization for me is that sex is kind of, like, inherently hilarious. In the clarity of it after you come where you're like, 'Oh my God. That was crazy." But yeah, I'll try anything. I love it.
Can you give me details?
Nahhh, I'd rather not.
Mhm... Do you think with a long-term partner, you'd be monogamous or open?
My baseline is definitely monogamy, but I can understand that if you've been with someone for years, hooking up with a stranger in a club isn't going to change that. I don't think I'm the type - at least these days - to have two boyfriends.
Right. Is there anything you never try, like... fisting?
I get uncomfortable if someone hurts too much.
But you seem to have nice, small hands.
Oh yeah, 100 percent.
Any final things you want to say? You can tell me anything.
I just think sex is fun. I feel like people take it too seriously.
Well, it's serious too.
I think it's like a conversation, you know? Conversations can be really fun, simple, light and easy. Sometimes, they can be very intense.
How would you rate the intensity of this one?
I would say maybe, like, a six.
Next time, I'll go harder.
