LOS ANGELES — Pornhub has partnered with the creators of parody site Amazon Dating, Ani Acopian and Suzy Shinn, to launch Scrubhub, a safe-for-work parody site that champions handwashing and supports COVID-19 relief efforts.
Featuring lighthearted videos and live stream takeovers by diverse talent, including Pornhub Brand Ambassador Asa Akira, Angela White, Austin Wolf and others, Scrubhub also collects donations for coronavirus relief.
The site reimagines the mundane, yet necessary task of handwashing through the lens of humor. Besides comical videos that satirize typical adult genres, Scrubhub will host live takeovers twice daily at 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. (PDT), featuring a range of personalities, from musicians to comedians and more.
Donations collected via Scrubhub will initially support two charitable organizations born out of COVID-19: Invisible Hands, a volunteer-based program that delivers groceries and supplies to the elderly, disabled and immunocompromised in the New York area; and Frontline Foods, which donates healthy meals to hospital clinicians in Los Angeles by partnering with local restaurants who have been devastated by the pandemic. Pornhub will make an initial donation to support these initiatives.
“Over the past few weeks, the one thing that has been repeated by literally everyone — politicians, scientists, celebrities and athletes — has been the importance of washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water to protect against this virus,” said Pornhub VP Corey Price. “Some people have encouraged singing songs with earworm effects — Beyonce’s ‘Love on Top’ chorus for example — some have promoted hashtags for social media challenges and others have created comical memes that riff on mainstream and internet culture.”
“We thought this presented a unique opportunity for us to bring some joy to something that has become so mundane and repetitive. We love working with talented creatives — in this instance alongside Ani and Suzy — and are proud to debut Scrubhub,” Price added. “Sometimes, lighthearted content can be cathartic and help foster a sense of social cohesion. Let’s all come together and do our part to stay safe and ultimately defeat this virus.”
Acopian, an acclaimed director and conceptual artist, and Shinn, a Grammy-nominated producer, made headlines earlier this year with the creation and subsequent launch of Amazon Dating, a parody dating site that reportedly received over 15,000 applicants. To create Scrubhub, they teamed up with web developer Scott Buscemi.
Acopian and Shinn have now seized the opportunity by taking the joke "way too far."
“Scrubhub started as a fun idea that, thanks to Pornhub’s platform, we’ve turned into a destination for creativity and connection for the greater good,” Acopian and Shinn explained in a joint statement. “We’re proud to be partnering with our friends at Invisible Hands and Frontline Foods to make a difference and raise money for those affected by COVID-19.”
The Scrubhub project follows Pornhub’s recent COVID-19 relief efforts, which include support to first responders and medical staff fighting on the front lines of the pandemic; support for the Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP) and other sex worker relief funds, such as the Free Speech Coalition Emergency Fund; and direct help for performers in the form of boosted payouts for participants in its Modelhub program.
Compared to the previous month-to-date, Price revealed that Modelhub has seen an average increase of over 17 percent in sales per day. This includes video sales growth, and tips and fan club sales growth.
Pornhub is sourcing recommendations for additional charitable organizations to support. Email suggestions to tips@pornhub.com.
Scrubhub can be found here.