Lecturer Ruggero Freddi opens up about his adult film past
(Facebook/Ruggero Freddi)
A university lecturer has opened up about his porn star past.
Dr Ruggero Freddi, a maths professor at Rome’s prestigious La Sapienza University, had his career in adult acting exposed when students tracked down the content online.
The academic used to be known as Carlo Masi, a gay pornstar signed to Colt Studios in California.
Despite the unusual background, the academic was allowed to keep his role at the university.
(YouTube)
Now Dr Freddi says his past has never been an issue, and both colleagues and students at the university have supported him.
The Big N Plenty star told Mail Online: “I never experienced any discrimination against me, neither when I came out as a gay man nor when people found out what I did before I became a maths professor.
“I sometimes I tell [my mother], mom I didn’t find a cure for cancer I made porn movies. She doesn’t mind, neither do my friends, ever.”
He added: “The only one being a bit perplexed was my dad. He said, why invest in university to end up doing porn? You could’ve done porn immediately. But in the end he also was cool with it.”
Though Italy has a reputation for being socially conservative – it does not yet have same-sex marriage or a string of other gay rights protections – Dr Freddi says students never minded.
“They have always been kind and educated with me,” he said. “If they had something to say about me, they never showed it.”
University bosses, though, had some more reluctance.
The university cancelled a World AIDS Day conference he was arranging on the subject of HIV and Aids.
He had intended to hold a discussion with his engineering class about tackling HIV and the expansion of PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis).
(Facebook/Ruggero Freddi)
There are an estimated 130,000 people living with HIV in Italy according to UNAIDS, which is around 7% of men who have sex with men.
“I had booked the conference room in advance but I never received the permission from the head of department,” he said. “All of a sudden also that booking was cancelled.
“I don’t know what this means, but I don’t think I deserve this. I’m a serious researcher and a good professor.”
Students unraveled a banner that read “Do not believe that HIV is not your concern” in protest at the decision.
Dr Freddi is well-informed on sexual health, alongside his engineering knowledge, as university students were surprised to recently discover.
(Facebook/Ruggero Freddi)
In his previous life he worked in the muscle daddy adult film industry.
Speaking to Italian publication Republica, Dr Freddi said he entered the industry after spending time looking for engineering work in Italy without success.
“I was offered to do a film in the USA,” he said. “I thought: ‘Why not?’”
“I saw it as a job that helps me earn more and is a more entertaining career.”
After signing with Colt Studios in California, Freddi became known as ‘Carlo Masi’.
He eventually quit porn in 2013, returning to Italy.
(Facebook/RuggeroFreddi)
Dr Freddi earned a Masters degree in Maths, and set about constructing a new life.
Speaking to GSN, Freddi explained that he knew his past life would come out at some point.
“I knew sooner or later something was going to happen, but I didn’t expect something so big to happen,” he said.
“I thought someone would publish something and my students would talk about it for a while, but I wasn’t expecting the entire country to actually speak about it.”
