Liberated from institutional misogyny, performers are creating content and cashing in on themselves for once, and not without a discernible sense of schadenfreude. No longer financially dependent on traditional studios, women in the industry are speaking out on social media, exposing a rash of predatory behavior from companies, directors, and in some cases their agents. Three years after allegations of sexual assault enveloped the reputations of James Deen and Ron Jeremy, arguably the most iconic male performers of their generations, new alarms are being raised among female performers. James has put her creativity to the test, turning to some of the same platforms adult performers are cashing in on, but on a smaller pay scale reflective of the non-nude content.īut the promise of payment may not be enough to entice performers back to set.
James, one of adult entertainment’s leading feminist directors. We rely on production to survive whereas performers can make their own productions at home they can shoot videos and pictures for their fan base,” explains Jacky St. “It’s particularly brutal for directors that are not performers. Where directors and companies fit in a post-COVID-19 world may very well be dictated by adult performers. For as many options as porn performers have, the directors of porn (who are not also talent themselves) have far less.
Realizing professional porn isn’t necessary for a lucrative career, many performers are now making even more money in a safe environment they control. When COVID-19 shut down the adult entertainment industry, performers fell back on many of the things they were already doing, creating and selling content directly to their fans. Adult performers are entering a new era of awareness-and their empowerment may shape the future of porn.