xbiz world
xbiz premiere

Burlesque Dancer Sues Learning Annex for Being Labeled as Porn Star

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Is calling a burlesque dancer a porn star an actionable offense? According to one Brooklyn dancer it is. She’s suing the Learning Annex after videos she performed in for the company were posted online that labeled her as a "Young Sexy Porn Star Stripper Dancer" and a "Big Tit Sexy Teen Girl."

Tara Lee Heffner, aka burlesque performer Veronica Varlow, was hired last year by the Learning Annex to lead a seminar on burlesque dancing. Her lawyer claims the videos, which surfaced on YouTube, were derogatorily labeled and discredits her artistic performances as tawdry and connects her to the X-rated industry — an association she wants no part of.

A YouTube.com search for the allegedly offensive labels or the name Veronica Varlow

"She's a burlesque performer and she takes it very seriously as an art form," her lawyer, Ivan Saperstein, told the New York Daily News. "She's purposely avoided nudity her entire career to avoid being harmed in this way."

The suit, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, accuses the Learning Annex and contractor PHI Media of tarnishing Heffner’s name and causing her “great mental pain and anguish.”

Heffner also operates an online clothing boutique that sells burlesque fashions and has appeared as a burlesque dance instructor on the MTV docu-reality series “Made.”

The suit seeks unspecified damages.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

FSC Drops Florida AV Lawsuit in Wake of SCOTUS Decision

A U.S. district court judge granted on Tuesday a motion by Free Speech Coalition to dismiss the trade association’s lawsuit over Florida’s age verification law, a case that had been on hold pending the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the constitutionality of state AV laws.

Ukrainian President Responds to Porn Legalization Petition

President Volodymyr Zelensky responded Tuesday to an OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine, stating that he would wait for the legislative process to play out “in accordance with established procedure.”

NC Governor Vetoes Bill Targeting Adult Industry, Override Possible

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein today vetoed a bill imposing new regulations that adult industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

25,000 Sign Petition to Legalize Pornography in Ukraine

An OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine has amassed the 25,000 signatures required for official consideration by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

FSC Unpacks SCOTUS Age Verification Ruling in Webinar

The Free Speech Coalition conducted a public webinar Tuesday to help adult industry stakeholders understand the Supreme Court’s recent decision in FSC v. Paxton, and its potential implications.

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect in South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

UPDATED: Supreme Court Rules Against Adult Industry in Pivotal Texas AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday issued its decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, striking a blow against the online adult industry by ruling in support of Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

Show More