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AYTO Star Max Gentile on the Groundbreaking Sexually Fluid Season and Looking Past Gender Guidelines

Several seasons of MTV’s “Are You the One?” followed the format used by most other networks, following sexy singles as they get tangled up in bouts of drawn out heartbreak and hookups while looking for their one true love. And the most cliche thing about it? Everyone is straight. The story’s been told, you know what to expect and you learn nothing from it.

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That’s why it was such a big deal when it was announced “AYTO” would feature an entirely sexually fluid cast for its latest season. With 16 new cast members, all gathered under the LGBTQ umbrella, the idea of finding their “perfect match” just became a lot whole more interesting — and educational. Unlike other shows, the 8th season of “AYTO” is showing viewers across the country that love knows no gender, has no limits and no judgments are made.

If you haven’t already heard, love is love, and Max Gentile, an Ohio native who may “look more masculine or heteronormative than what most people have in their mind as LGBTQ,” is ready to embrace his sexuality to the fullest.

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A post shared by Are You The One? (@areuthe1) on Jun 21, 2019 at 5:59am PDT

Gentile spoke to AskMen about why he joined the show, what this specific season can teach the world and how to accept yourself for who you are.

AskMen: What inspired you to do something like this where you’d have to be so open about your sexuality in such a public setting?

Max Gentile: I just know from personal experience that the only way you grow is when you're outside of your comfort zone. And just knew it was going to be a great experience to grow as a human and meet some fantastic people. And [it was] a way for me to use my story for anyone else who's struggled like I did with coming out as bisexual.

How long had you been out before appearing on this season?

I had come out about when I was 23, so about two years. And I mean, people knew, but I don't think I was necessarily living a fully out life, if you will. I wasn't necessarily embracing that as it was. I didn't mind if people knew, but I wasn't embracing that entire thing.

I told, you know, maybe 10 people. I told my parents, I told some of my best friends, and then my family. I never made like a coming out post. I never specifically said, "This is who I am and you need to accept me." I just figured, you know, if you know, you know.

On the show, it seems like you struggled at first with being comfortable in your own skin, especially in front of the camera. How was that journey for you in terms of being your true self in terms of your sexuality?

You actually see this tangible growth in me where, at the start of the season, I wasn't comfortable. I was shutting down. I was reverting back to what I had known, and then I knew that if I'm going to advance on this show, I'm going to have to embrace this side of me because this is why I'm here. And that's what I did, and you get to actually physically see that happen. I think it's awesome.

What else has the show taught you that you were able to leave with once filming was done?

To be honest, the show was one of the best things that's ever happened. Basit [Shittu] and Kai [Wes], I mean, they were two of my really good friends in the house. And you know, with both of them, I'd had a conversation like, "I can't wait to go and teach other people, you know, who are around me" because it was never a thing that I had known. And you know, in Columbus, Ohio, I feel like I didn't even get the chance to meet those kind of people.

I remember sitting there telling Basit, "I get the chance to go and educate people about people like you, and I can't wait. I'm excited for it." And that was the best thing because I grew as a human and now I don't care what you are, who you are, whatever you want to do, I'm going to respect it and love you. And I'm not saying that I wasn't like that before, I'm just way more attuned to it now.

What do you hope people at home will learn and experience just from watching the show and not being there physically?

I think people will learn that they're just like everybody else. These are the kind of people that you want around you, and with you. They show such a human side that makes them so relatable. You look past the gender guidelines and you just see them as humans, and I think that that's what the show is bringing to a lot of people.

What advice would you share for someone who might be struggling with their sexuality but isn’t sure where to turn or what to do?

Come out when you're comfortable and you accept yourself. When you accept yourself, people will have to accept you and if they don't accept you, you really don't need them in your life.

I hope that they can see within them that they're strong enough to handle it, and they can do it. It might not be on a large scale like television, but they can do it and there's going to be people who will love and accept them out there. And I hope that they find the power within because I know they have it.

“Are You the One?” airs on its new day and time, Monday nights at 11/10c on MTV. You can follow Max on Twitter or Instagram.

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Sean Abrams, Khareem Sudlow