Lucas told XBIZ that he already is disliked within the awards community because of an opinionated speech he made onstage at an awards show four years ago in response to the industry's endorsement of gay adult agent David Forest.
"They said I couldn't ever go on stage again," Lucas said.
Lucas said this year, Grabby organizers went full force and decided not to nominate his company at all. He said that he suspects officials at the Gay Chicago Magazine, which organizes the Grabby Awards, wanted to avoid a repeat of the GAYVN Awards, in which Lucas' "Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita" swept every nomination with 14 wins.
"I feel it's an economic thing for them," Lucas said, adding that no one will travel to the show and buy tables if there's a risk they won't have a chance at winning.
Gay Chicago Magazine Publisher Stacy Bridges, who also coordinates the Grabbys, told XBIZ that there's a simple reason Lucas wasn't nominated this year.
"He didn't send the video on time," Bridges said. "They are due at the end of the year, Dec. 30, and Lucas failed to send it. He claims we are lying."
Bridges also said Lucas has yet to show a UPS tracking number of proof of receipt, and that Lucas' sale director called him in February to ask how "Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita" should be sent to him.
"Two months late," Bridges said.
Lucas said he followed the same shipping procedure he does for every awards show, and that as soon as him film was released in December, copies were sent to Gay Chicago Magazine.
Bridges said he suspects someone at Lucas Entertainment "dropped the ball" and didn't send it in December, and that Lucas doesn't want to admit the company's mistake.