You’ve seen the edits. The TikToks of Thomas Doherty as Max Wolfe in the Gossip Girl reboot—smirking, effortless, and very much not straight—have basically taken over the internet since 2021. It’s understandable why the "Thomas Doherty gay" search term stays trending. He plays queer characters with such a lived-in, natural energy that people naturally start wondering where the character ends and the actor begins.
But if you’re looking for a simple "yes" or "no" box to tick, you’re going to be disappointed. Real life is messier than a TV script.
Thomas has been pretty open about how playing Max Wolfe changed him. He’s gone on record saying the role was "liberating" and that it made him look back and question the "conditioning" he grew up with in Scotland. It’s that classic thing where an actor takes a job and the job takes a piece of them, too.
The Max Wolfe Effect and Why We’re All Obsessed
Max Wolfe wasn’t just a gay character; he was pansexual, polyamorous, and lived in a throuple. That’s a lot for anyone to unpack. Doherty told Variety that playing someone who sees no boundaries in love forced him to look at his own "preconceived notions" about gender and identity.
He didn't just show up and say lines. He actually thought about it.
👉 See also: Pat Lalama Journalist Age: Why Experience Still Rules the Newsroom
“I have always seen sexuality as a spectrum,” he told Just Jared in 2021. That’s a pretty nuanced take for a guy who spent years in the Disney Channel machine. He’s explicitly said that labels feel like "walls to your growth."
Basically, he’s not a fan of the "are you or aren't you" interrogation.
A History of Very Public Relationships
To get the full picture, you have to look at who he’s actually dated. It’s a pretty short list of high-profile names, and so far, it’s been women.
- Dove Cameron: The big one. They were the "it" couple of Disney after Descendants 2. They dated for nearly four years before splitting in October 2020. It wasn't just a PR thing; they were genuinely "soulmates" according to Dove.
- Yasmin Wijnaldum: After the Dove breakup, Thomas was spotted with the Dutch model. They went Instagram official, did the red carpets, and looked very much like a standard celebrity pairing.
- Georgia Hassarati: As of early 2025, reports confirmed Thomas is dating the Too Hot to Handle alum. They’ve been seen together in Australia and New York, looking very comfortable.
Despite the "Thomas Doherty gay" rumors, his public track record is heterosexual. But—and this is a big but—he’s also the guy who once told an interviewer, "It’s just been girls... that’s a preference," followed by a "devilish smile" and a mention of how living in New York at 26 changes things.
✨ Don't miss: Why Sexy Pictures of Mariah Carey Are Actually a Masterclass in Branding
He likes to keep people guessing. It’s part of his charm.
Navigating the "Queer-Baiting" Conversation
In 2026, the internet is quick to scream "queer-baiting" when a straight-identifying actor plays a queer role. It’s a sensitive topic. Some fans feel like queer roles should go to queer actors, period.
Thomas seems to navigate this by being incredibly respectful. He doesn’t claim a struggle that isn't his, but he doesn't distance himself from the community either. He’s worked at gay bars. He’s played pansexual icons. He talks about sexuality as a fluid, evolving thing rather than a static fact.
There's a difference between a straight guy playing "gay" as a caricature and what Thomas does. He brings a level of empathy to his roles that makes the "is he gay?" question feel almost irrelevant. He’s just a guy who isn't afraid of the spectrum.
🔗 Read more: Lindsay Lohan Leak: What Really Happened with the List and the Scams
What He Thinks of the "Throuple" Life
Just because he plays a polyamorous character doesn't mean he wants that at home. He told Drew Barrymore flat out: "No way."
He joked that he can "hardly look after himself," let alone manage the emotional labor of two other partners. It’s a good reminder that while he might be "liberated" by his characters, he still has his own personal boundaries and preferences when the cameras stop rolling.
Making Sense of the Rumors
If you’re trying to find a definitive "coming out" post, you won't find one. Thomas Doherty hasn't labeled himself as gay. He hasn't labeled himself as straight, either. He seems to exist in that "no labels" space that a lot of Gen Z and younger Millennials are moving toward.
Is he gay? No evidence suggests he identifies that way.
Is he queer-coded? Absolutely.
Ultimately, he’s an actor who is comfortable enough in his own skin to play anyone. Whether he’s in a period piece or a messy teen drama, his focus seems to be on the work rather than the gossip.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators:
- Respect the Boundary: Understand that an actor's "on-screen" sexuality is a performance, even if they draw from personal growth to achieve it.
- Value Fluidity: Take a page from Doherty’s book and view sexuality as a spectrum rather than a rigid binary.
- Check the Sources: When seeing "breaking news" about a celebrity's sexuality, look for direct quotes rather than edited fan videos.
- Support Authentic Representation: Appreciate actors who use their platform to challenge their own "conditioning" and promote inclusivity.