The porn industry has suffered several deaths in the past few weeks, and now porn stars are weighing on why this tragedy is happening.
It all started when performer August Ames committed suicide after being bullied on social media for refusing to have sex with a man who was in gay porn. There were four more deaths in the weeks that followed. The latest one was Olivia Luam, who died from drug and alcohol abuse.
I reached out to several women who have been in the porn industry in an attempt to find out what is behind the five unexpected deaths in such a short period of time.
Adult film superstar and lead actress in “Pirates” Jesse Jane gave me the following statement when I asked her why this was happening and if anybody knew why:
Its unfortunate that all these suicides are happening in the adult industry right now, and its all due to bullying. The fact is that this has been happening for a long time now people are just now seeing it because of all the Harvey Weinstein stuff coming out that people are now aware that sexual harassment and bullying. Its really sad that it had to be mainstream people talking about it to realize this has been going on in industries for YEARS!! And that being said, its been happening to people in the adult industry a lot worse. We are in an industry where we already get attacked by people who do no agree with what we do, but so what is so absurd is all the bullying within the industry from our own peers. Now can I say its all do to strictly bullying? No, but it has a lot to do with it. Now, some of it, people could be battling with their own demons, and some of it has to do with overdoses. But how many back to back suicides we have had now? It’s time for everyone to really take a look into how we treat people, and maybe the mental stability of anyone new we are letting into the adult industry. Why you might ask, its a tough industry to be in and you have to have a thick skin, and if you can’t handle people being internet trolls because you already have issues wether it be insecurity or battling your own drug addiction, then you really shouldn’t get in this business. The other big thing is the girls in porn need to take a stand for themselves and take our industry back, and performers already in the industry need to be there for our own, support each other not attack each other.
I also asked the same question to former porn star Jenna Jameson, and she gave me the following statement on the string of deaths in the adult film industry:
I don’t think anyone saw this coming, because everyone overlooks the performers mental health. From my time in the industry I can’t remember anyone asking me if I was ok. I think the women have to give off a very tough vibe and act as if they absolutely adore their work due to people looking down upon you and that can and WILL eat at you. I longed for G-d, family and stability, and thankfully I found it, but for too many they won’t.
We have reached out to a handful of other women in the industry. This piece will be updated with any more comments we receive.