LOS ANGELES — On Saturday, Brazzers marked its 20th anniversary with a swanky gala in the very heart of old Tinseltown, at the historic Hollywood Athletic Club on Sunset Boulevard, where noted performers and influential industry figures gathered for an exclusive dinner and celebration of the iconic brand’s talent, crew and execs.
The evening was an unabashed celebration of all things Brazzers, with a red carpet and a cocktail party featuring drinks provided by trendy Toast Distillers, followed by a black-tie dinner and an after-party, all amid the palatial Roaring ’20s architecture of the landmark Hollywood Athletic Club, currently marking its 100th anniversary.
The centerpiece of the evening was a full awards-style stage show celebrating Brazzers. The "ceremony" was hosted by megapopular brand mainstay Abella Danger.
“There are 300 people sitting together in this iconic landmark, where the first-ever Emmys took place in 1949,” Danger marveled. “When the Hollywood Athletic Club was originally founded in the 1920s, it served as a health club for silver-screen stars such as Walt Disney, Humphrey Bogart, Charlie Chaplin and Joan Crawford.”
One hundred years later, she declared gleefully, the venue was now hosting industry and Brazzers luminaries.
After a humorous video sequence featuring beloved Brazzers crew members and BTS personalities in zany acting roles, plus a Tom Cruise impersonator, Danger took the stage, emerging from a gigantic washing machine — a reference to the brand’s memetastic reputation for dubiously trapping MILFs in those appliances.
“I’m starstruck!” Danger proclaimed, marveling at the many attendees who had traveled far and wide to attend the gala, including talent and staff from Spain, the U.K., Montreal, Las Vegas and Miami, her beloved hometown.
“Tonight, let’s celebrate the incredible fact that we all sit together, hundreds of Brazzers’ best in one room, to mark a monumental 20 years of setting the gold standard,” Danger said.
Although Danger initially shared the disappointing news that iconic brand mascot Jordi El Niño Polla would not be able to make it, that turned out to be a fake-out. A Jazz Age homage to the venue, featuring tuxedoed tap dancers, ended by revealing Jordi himself hoofing it up like Fred Astaire on the storied stage. Massive cheers ensued, unsurprisingly given that everybody loves the Notorious ENP.
Segments throughout the evening honored the 2024 inductees to the Brazzers Hall of Fame — brand stalwarts Xander Corvus, Monique Alexander, Misty Stone, Danny D, Alexis Fawx, Manuel Ferrara, Cherie DeVille, Toni Ribas and Kissa Sins — as well as crew members and even those hard-working extras tasked with reacting to the brand’s famously outlandish comedy scenarios. Those who have passed over the years were recognized in an “in memoriam” tribute.
Brazzers MILF extraordinaire DeVille, in tantalizing leopard with an enormous red flower decorating her hair, shared her feelings with XBIZ.
“I am beyond honored,” she offered. “Brazzers has been such an iconic platform in the industry, and to be recognized for my contributions alongside so many incredible performers is truly humbling. I’m grateful to everyone at Brazzers and my fans who have supported me throughout my career. This is a moment I’ll cherish forever.”
Taking advantage of its in-house star power, the brand drafted several heavy hitters as presenters, including performers Mick Blue, Kira Noir, Alex Jones, Luna Star, Lily Lou, Abigaiil Morris, Ryan Reid, Ricky Johnson and Keiran Lee, as well as director/producers Mello Jackson and Lea Lexis.
The first formal speech of the evening set the tone, with brand director Ryan Hogan heralding the work of the entire team that makes Brazzers’ success possible.
After the event, Hogan told XBIZ that it was very satisfying to see the Brazzers Gala come together in real time.
“We were a bit nervous, not being experts when it comes to stage production — but when you have a crowd as electric as this one was, none of that seemed to matter,” he enthused. “We are proud of all the performers and crew who took this and made it their own.
Hogan gave special credit and expressed his gratitude to Danger, concluding toastmaster Lee and, of course, Jordi, who went above and beyond with his tap dancing.
“Expect Brazzers on Broadway by 2026!” Hogan exclaimed.
Fellow Brazzers exec Frank Petosa told XBIZ that the gala was conceived “to honor the amazing talent and hard working crews that helped build Brazzers into the brand that it is today.”
In a moving speech, Los Angeles-based Brazzers producer Lea Lexis charted the evolution of the profession since she started as a performer in the 2000s, noting that Brazzers’ commitment to testing requirements and innovations like introducing talent assistants have helped drive “a meaningful shift in the culture of our industry.”
“Together, we are changing the way the world views and understands porn,” she said. “That’s not a small thing and that’s not an easy thing.”
Lexis concluded by saying that being part of the Brazzers story is very special to her.
“That has nothing to do with follower count or awards,” she added. “That has to do with hard work, dedication and empathy.”
Throughout the event, speakers called attention to the work of everyone behind the scenes who helps make porn magic.
“I want to thank the very first people we interact with on set: the makeup artists,” Danger said. “Over the course of many years, they have made me feel and look beautiful every time I sat in their chairs.”
Danger then shouted out “the producers who, day in and day out, work tirelessly to bring these amazing scripts to life” and the international crews responsible for keeping the demanding Brazzers content pipeline flowing.
Pivoting to address everyone in the invitation-only room, Danger added, “Millions of people watch the art that you help create every day, and I wish that every single one of them knew that you are the backbone of this industry and this iconic brand. Here’s to 20 more years!”
Keiran Lee delivered the final toast, recalling his own journey as “a kid from the U.K.” who, 18 years ago, joined a strangely named website. Brazzers, he said, promised “the future: full high-definition porn beamed directly to your household whenever you wanted.”
To his amazement, Lee said, the company delivered on that ambitious promise, and then some.
At the after-party, which featured sought-after rapper Coi Leray deejaying a full-on dance party, Lee told XBIZ, “Working for Brazzers has always been a great experience. The 20th gala celebration was no different, thanks to a lot of hard work from the team in Montreal and LA — Ryan, Frank, Rachel, Micheal, Lea and many more. We all made a truly memorable evening!”
