PORN STAR INTERVIEW: ARMOND RIZZO

From the navy to porn, #metoo and HIV stigma, pocket rocket Armond is outspoken and optimistic.

From the navy to porn, #metoo, HIV stigma, this pocket rocket is outspoken and optimistic.

DNA: What’s your background? Armond Rizzo: I’m from a town in the suburbs of Chicago called Aurora.

What brought you to porn?

I got into the industry after being in the navy and moving back to Chicago. I met Shane Frost and he introduced me to Randy Blue. I only shot one scene with Randy Blue – basically the forgotten season at the beginning of my porn career! After Randy Blue I shot with Falcon Studios with Landon Conrad and Antonio Biaggi for Breeditraw.com.

But what made you choose porn as a career?

I wanted to be an actor and model, but I was in a dark place at the time. I didn’t have any confidence in myself so I figured porn would be next best thing because I could do both acting and modelling, and I love sex, so it seemed like a natural fit.

Were there issues around your sexuality while you were doing military service? No. I’ve always had a professional mindset and I approached military service in that way. In the navy, I always wanted to focus on the job at hand. No one cared if you were gay as long as you pulled your weight. It wasn’t about shouting, “I’m gay!” to the entire command because, really, nobody cared. They knew anyway. So, yes, it was easy being myself in the service. I was in for three years.

You were one of the first porn stars to cross over from Bareback to Mainstream condom porn. Was that transition easy?

It wasn’t easy because I thought I was being slick by creating two characters! Condom porn was Armond and bareback was “Joey Rodriguez”. But I was quickly caught out by the bloggers, who outed me. So one had to go and I said goodbye to Joey.

You’ve now been in the industry quite a while. Most performers only last a few years; to what do you attribute your longevity?

My ability to just say fuck it and be myself. I think I’ve shown that I’m not just onedimensional. Yes, I get fucked on camera, but I still have a brain and a personality. I will always speak about what I’m passionate about and what makes me, me. I believe sharing my life experiences could help someone else to feel less alone in the world. We are in this beautiful world and we are in it together. I believe authenticity is such an important thing to have if you want longevity in this industry. In life, once you find that in yourself, and allow yourself to shine, you can succeed in anything.

Was there criticism because you’d started out doing bareback?

I always get criticism about it! But it doesn’t bother me. I’m a performer, I create fantasy films, I expect adults to be adults and to know that there’s a lot going on behind the

scenes that no one sees, such as testing and communicating with your partner. I receive backlash for, basically, everything – but it’s never about me; it’s just trolls being trolls. There are murmurs in the porn industry around the #metoo movement. Has this issue affected you?

It hasn’t, but I do know others who have been, and who are continuing to deal with it.

Is there stigma within the industry between performers who are positive and those who are negative?

I believe the industry should stick to ensuring that undetectable [viral load] models can prove that they’re undetectable and that negative models should be on Truvada. It’s that simple. Why segregate incredible, talented models based on their status? You’ll miss out on creating great pieces of work. If you’re in the sex industry I believe you should do everything possible to keep yourself safe. Any medical drug that comes out that would lower the risk – you should jump on it. You should care about your health, and the heath of others.

In life, once you find authenticity in yourself, and allow yourself to shine, you can succeed at anything.

How do you feel about the state of the US government?

Our government has lost the trust of the people and it will take years to regain it. Our government is failing in every department. I am sad and angry.

What do you say to people who, even now, still support Trump?

Wake the fuck up and get educated. Statistics, facts, science… the truth does fucking matter. Don’t let this government control what you believe. Lift up your heads and open your hearts and minds.

Your career takes you around the US and throughout the world. What differences or similarities do you see between the States and other parts of the world?

There’s a huge difference between other countries and us. We are such a primitive country. We have lots to learn. We are so behind the rest of the world. From my travels, it seems to me the US grew its economy but never grew its education. Parts of our country are stuck in the 1960s. I love travelling because I get quite an eye-opener and see all walks of life.

Is there anything you miss about your life before porn?

I don’t miss anything. I’m where I’m supposed to be. I believe I was always capable of dealing with what life threw at me but didn’t realise it. If I hit a bump now, I know I could face it.

How is your social life?

My social life is just as compact as I am! [Laughs.] I have a few super-close friends who are my grounders. They remind me who I am whenever I start to lose myself. Outside of porn I just enjoying life… cooking, music and art. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

That’s hard to answer because I live day-by-day. I see where life takes me. We are constantly growing and evolving into someone new. So, I’m not sure what I see but I’m definitely excited for the future.

At the sticky end of the interview, what are your vital stats?

I’m 28 years old, 150cm (4’11”), 54kg (120lbs) and 7.5 uncut.