LOS ANGELES — Director Tony T and performer Ramon Nomar have filed a lawsuit against adult star Nikki Benz, alleging they suffered injury to their reputations after she allegedly defamed them by saying she was sexually assaulted during a December shoot.
The suit targets the adult film actress, as well as adult entertainment conglomerate MindGeek along with its Brazzers division and 50 John Does, charging libel, infliction of emotional distress and interference with economic advantage.
Industry attorney Karen Tynan, who represents Tony T and Nomar, on Wednesday night allowed select industry members at XBIZ 2017 to view raw footage of the December shoot featuring Benz and Nomar.
The 45-minute, all-anal BDSM scene is at the heart of Benz’s contention that she was allegedly raped and sexually assaulted during the filming of it.
Tynan sought out the all-industry audience to view the scene, titled “Fifty Shades of Brazers” in court papers, to provide “transparency” over the issues.
The footage starts with standard model questions and moves on to the hardcore sex, with Nomar and, later, Benz in face masks.
Following the scene, each were asked if they were there of their own volition, whether they had fun, and whether they would do it again.
Initially Benz indicated "no" to whether she would do it again. But in a second take, she changed her answer to “yes.”
Tony T directed and produced two shoots involving Benz last month. The first, on Dec. 18, involved Benz in a lesbian scene, while the second on the following day featured Benz and Nomar, according to the suit filed at Los Angeles Superior Court.
The suit alleges Benz did not complain during the second film shoot, but later told a makeup artist she was looking forward to ending a contractual relationship with MindGeek along with Brazzers.
One day after the scene, Benz published an extensive social media feed alleging the assault and implicating Nomar as the “male talent” and Tony T by name as perpetrators.
“The material initially published on Dec. 20 was repeatedly published by Benz in the days following on a wide variety of social media sites, including but not limited to Twitter and DailyDot2, where she has substantial following of hundreds of thousands,” the suit said.
Two days following Benz's allegations, MindGeek’s Brazzers division released statements such as the following: “It appears that some of the alleged conduct could have occurred, and we took immediate measure to sever our relationship with the producer in question. Not only have we terminated all existing professional engagements with the producer, but any possibility for any future endeavors with this producer have also been quashed."
The suit alleges that MindGeek and Brazzers “ratified, adopted and repeated these statements without any investigation or viewing of the footage of the video in reckless disregard for the rights and reputations of Tony T and Nomar.”
“MindGeek and Brazzers terminated their relationship with Tony T, effectively preventing him from continuing with his work for them, and also casting additional aspersions within the industry that affected the ability of Tony T to work,” the suit said.
Tony T and Nomar’s suit seeks unspecified general, special and punitive damages, along with attorney’s fees and court costs.
MindGeek declined comment to XBIZ, and Benz did not respond for comment.
But on Twitter, Benz said, “Remember that truth will reveal itself. As a 13-year veteran in this wonderful industry I’m grateful to have an outstanding reputation.”
Pictured: Nikki Benz and Tony T
