SAN FRANCISCO — Adult film producer Kink.com is firing back at Cal-OSHA after it announced fines against the company in excess of $78,000, Kink said in a release.
According to Kink, the majority of the citations are related to relatively minor issues, such as extension cord violations and paperwork, which it believes are due to its ongoing overhaul of the 100-year-old National Guard Armory where its shoots take place. However, the largest fines are related to the company’s policy of allowing performers to choose whether or not to use a condom.
“The fines are excessive and, we believe, politically motivated,” Kink.com Founder Peter Acworth said. “The complaints which prompted the inspection were not made by actual employees, but by outside groups with a long history of opposition to adult film. We’ll be appealing the citations.”
Kink.com says it considers itself “an ethical leader in the adult film business,” pointing to its Performer’s Bill of Rights that explicitly outlines the right to use condoms.
“Some of our most popular performers always work with condoms,” said Jessie Lee, talent manager at Kink. “But many prefer not to, for various reasons including that they can be uncomfortable and abrasive on a long shoot. We’ve always believed that performers should be able to make that decision themselves. The government should not be regulating what we do sexually.”
Cal/OSHA launched the inspections after a two performers who had worked with Kink tested HIV positive. Kink denies that the performers, a couple, contracted the virus at Kink — or on any adult set — and instead says that subsequent testing established that the two had actually been exposed to it in their private lives.
Acworth has detailed his response to the Cal/OSHA citations in more detail on his blog.
