Maitland Ward Pens 'Daily Beast' Column About Online Intimacy

Maitland Ward Pens 'Daily Beast' Column About Online Intimacy

LOS ANGELES — Maitland Ward has written a column for The Daily Beast about online sex and intimacy after almost a year of pandemic-related isolation.

The article, titled “Guys Are Paying Porn Stars Big Money Just to Flirt During COVID,” was published today.

“We should be thankful that we live now and not in 1918, when the last pandemic hit,” wrote the multi XBIZ Award-winning star, noting that “there were no televisions or computers then; no live cam shows or subscription sites where you can watch people have sex in surround sound and high definition. No Skype or Zoom — or tokens to purchase for a name shoutout and a titty bounce.”

“Think about it,” Ward added. “When our great-grandparents were wanking it, they hadn’t seen a well-choreographed gang-bang, or a piledrive, and I’m sure they didn’t know a girl could squirt. What a limited world to live in without that font of knowledge.”

“We now look to sex, and sex workers, for connection and intimacy — and most surprisingly, humanity," she said.

She explained that a fan had told her, “Don’t take your clothes off” when requesting a custom video on her premium fan site.

“I had heard it all when it came to these requests, but a demand for full clothing was new,” Ward wrote. “‘Just dress up nice, unbutton the top of your blouse so I can see bra lace and pretend we’re flirting at the bar.’ He also specified the name of the bar, which is one he often frequented in the before-time, and also where he was the night the world shut down.”

“That casual intimacy had become the taboo, the illicit,” Ward concluded. “They wanted to feel what it was like to be on a date again. To touch a stranger. To be unmasked. And porn was the only way to do it.”

To read the full article, visit TheDailyBeast.com.

For more from Maitland Ward, follow her on Twitter.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Lily Starfire on Power, Pleasure, and Listening to Her Body

On any given day, you might easily pass Lily Starfire in a park or notice her picking out vegetables at the market, and never guess that she’s one of the adult industry’s rising stars. Not because she doesn’t look the part — she’s radiant — but because there’s zero diva energy here, just a young woman with an easygoing smile, a contagious laugh and a friendly aura that whispers “Georgia roots.”

Destiny James, Breezy Bri Headline 'Lesbian Step-Daughters 8'

Destiny James and Breezy Bri topline “Lesbian Step-Daughters 8” from Girlfriends Films.

Liz Jordan, Sarah Illustrates Star in 3rd Installment of Blacked Feature 'The Blueprint'

Liz Jordan stars with Vixen Media Group exclusives Sarah Illustrates and Jason Luv in the third installment of studio imprint Blacked's new feature, "The Blueprint."

Little Caprice, Marcello Bravo to Co-Host 2025 XMA Europa Awards

XBIZ is pleased to announce that husband-and-wife duo Little Caprice and Marcello Bravo will co-host adult’s biggest night in Europe: the 2025 XMA Europa Awards on Sept. 4, in the epic climax to XBIZ’s fall events series.

TEAs Reveal 2026 Event Dates

The 2026 Trans Erotica Awards (TEAs) and related festivities will take place March 6-8 at Avalon in Hollywood, organizers have announced.

Elly Clutch Leads Latest From Brazzers

2024 XMAs Female Clip Creator of the Year Elly Clutch stars with Mick Blue in the latest scene from Brazzers, titled “Co-Anchors With Benefits.”

Penny Barber Performs Her 1st Gangbang for MILFY

Reigning XMAs MILF Performer of the Year Penny Barber performs her first gangbang in the latest release from Vixen Media Group (VMG) studio imprint MILFY.

Chloe Amour Makes Cosplayground Debut in 'The Witcher XXX: A Porn Parody'

Chloe Amour has made her Cosplayground debut alongside Ryan Driller in “The Witcher XXX: A Porn Parody.”

Ricky Greenwood on Finding Purpose, Pushing Limits and Making L.A. Home

Ricky Greenwood always knew he wanted to make movies. After graduating from high school, he studied film at a college in Quebec, where he grew up.

Lilly Bell, Chanel Camryn Star in Latest From Vixen

Reigning XMAs Girl/Girl Perfomer of the Year Lilly Bell and Chanel Camryn star with Dan Damage in the new Vixen scene “Daddy’s Girl Lilly and Bestie Chanel Get a Personal Workout.”

Show More