LOS ANGELES — A tragic shadow has fallen upon the adult entertainment industry, in the wake of sexual assault allegations against adult film star James Deen, yet leading companies have stepped forth to fill the pre-dawn dark with a defense of performers' rights.
Whilst supporters of the embattled actor seek answers in the coming days, a silver lining to banish the smoldering of thickening stormclouds, there is little doubt that the industry has felt this injury as a whole.
As companies weigh their options, several have already decided to end their relations with Deen.
Kink severed ties with him, Evil Angel suspended sales of newly created scenes with Deen and Doc Johnson decided to stop manufacturing his line of adult toys.
"For the Kink.com community, as well as the larger BDSM community, consent and respect are sacrosanct," said Kink in a statement to SF Weekly. "Effective immediately, Kink.com will cease all ties with James Deen, both as a performer and a producer.
"Our performers deserve not only safe sets, but the ability to work without fear of assault," it added. "Rape or sexual assault, with or without a safe-word, off-set or on, should never be accepted as a hazard of adult production.
"While many of the allegations against Deen are new, the pattern is alarming," continued the statement. "Over the coming weeks and months, we will review our Model Bill of Rights to strengthen rights of performers off-set, and work with the larger industry to help performers to have been assaulted to more easily come forward."
"In light of the recent accusations against James Deen, Evil Angel today has decided not to sell any newly created scenes featuring Deen," said John Stagliano, founder and president of Evil Angel. "While our company presents what is consensual and exploratory about aggressive and rough sex, these accusations are of a nature so contrary to our company values that we feel it necessary to suspend the sales until more information is available."
“We are taking the allegations against James Deen very seriously,” said Chad Braverman, Doc Johnson’s COO and creative director. “And in light of the recent accusations we have decided to no longer proceed with the products that we make on his behalf.”
Stay tuned to XBIZ.com for further developments.
