That thing where you log in to the internet for a second and see people idolizing the guy who raped you as a feminist. That thing sucks. – Stoya
It’s easy for those of us who live in, frequent or even occasionally visit the demimonde to forget that well-known names and “front-page” news in our circles may barely even register on the radar of society at large. Because of that, and the fact that I get a lot of “crossover” traffic, I think it’s important that I report stories of that sort even when I’m behind the curve by days; one good aspect of the lag time is that it allows me to pick up on details, developments and nuances before actually committing myself to an opinion in writing.
With all that in mind, here are a few facts of which most of you probably know some, and some of you probably know all, and a few of you may know none: James Deen is a porn star who has for some time now been very popular with women for his boyish good looks and charming manner. Though he’s done many movies featuring rough sex, BDSM and rape, he was a favorite of many sex-positive feminists for his public statements about consent and other feminist issues, and though he has not publicly identified as a “feminist” many others have certainly applied the label to him. Then last Saturday, his ex-girlfriend, the porn actress Stoya, accused him of having raped her; another ex-girlfriend, Joanna Angel, supported Stoya, tweeting that Deen was “dead on the inside” and “literally the worst person I’ve ever met” (though she declined to say more until Wednesday). By Monday two other actresses had revealed similar incidents (one sexual assault and one attempted rape), and by Wednesday two more came forward to explain that on-camera rough sex scenes with Deen were actually rape. In the meantime, many sex workers had expressed solidarity with Stoya, and some had sided with Deen against his accusers (weirdly expressing sanctimonious bullshit about the law, as though US law ever treats sex workers fairly or reasonably); several video companies and websites severed ties with him, and he resigned from the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee.
Naturally, neofeminist vultures like Meghan Murphy descended with lightning speed to blame porn for Deen’s actions, or even worse to claim that there’s no moral difference between rape and consensual sex work…eerily echoing the misogynistic “defense” offered by the vile Jonathan “War Machine” Koppenhaver. Those of you who wonder why none of Deen’s victims ever came forward before Stoya did should consider these anti-whore obscenities before verbalizing your doubts; if you think they’re lying or exaggerating simply because they never said anything before, then you had better be ready to tar me with the same brush because I never reported any of my rapes or attempted rapes, either. Sex workers (or even those merely accused of being sex workers, as was my case the first time) who admit to having been raped must not only endure the typical gauntlet of accusations, shaming and victim-blaming all rape victims must run; in addition, we are subjected to extra tortures from moralists claiming that we “invite” rape or “place ourselves in harm’s way” or “deserve” it, or neofeminists saying that there’s no difference between our normal work and rape anyhow, or even claiming that our work contributes to the supposed “rape culture” that they blame for the actions of individuals. Moral retards like the aforementioned Murphy are only too happy to use our personal tragedies as ammunition in their assault on our livelihoods; is it any wonder we stay quiet? Would you report a workplace injury or even an attack by a co-worker if you knew lunatics would use it in an attempt to shut down your entire profession, an attempt which might result in your arrest and prosecution for felonies? Yeah, I didn’t think so. I didn’t even say anything to the others in the same hotel suite for fear of ruining my sisters’ chance to make a lot of money; I would imagine some of Deen’s victims had similar thoughts when they decided not to say anything about one of the most popular male performers in porn.
I’m fully aware that I’m biased in favor of other women, especially other whores, when I hear about a reported rape or assault; when Crystal Mangum accused three Duke University lacrosse players of rape in ’06, I instantly believed her and, had I been writing this blog then, would almost certainly have said so in print. It’s because of the Duke case and others like it that I am a little warier than I used to be, and obviously I would never support state violence or prosecutorial railroading (a la Mike Nifong) of Deen. But when five of my whore sisters all risk censure, shaming, and potential career damage to expose a malefactor, you bet I’m going to side with them. And if after reading this column you still can’t understand that, I suggest you do sex work for a few years and then get back to me about it.
The way this story is unfolding is so eerily reminiscent of the revelations about the late Jimmy Saville in the UK; a lone voice at first, then more and ever more. And not just Saville; many apparently well-respected ‘celebrities’ were accused of similar activities—sexual molestation and rape, often of children. Later on, we began to get others saying that this was known to insiders, who had said nothing, a conspiracy of silence, as if to protect the perpetrators.
There is more information in this piece from Melissa Gira Grant in the Graun:
http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/dec/04/how-stoya-took-on-james-deen-and-broke-the-porn-industrys-silence
where it now seems that Deen’s behaviour was known to many.
(Apologies if you intended to put this in one of your updates.)
I noticed the parallels too, especially the institutional cover ups and their threats silencing potential whistleblowers because of the money Saville (and similarly Deen) brought in. Both of these men appear to have carefully chosen careers where they could attack with impunity, knowing that victims were unlikely to report the attacks and even if they did, to be listened to. In many ways Deen misjudged the power of porn producers to protect him – their power largely exists in the demi-monde alone and only for as long as those assaulted remain indentured to them. Saville was more canny using the full weight of the British National Health Service and Broadcasting Corporations to raise his stature to one of quasi-sainthood and then using their complicity and knowledge of his deeds to give them a strong motive to be instrumental in covering his prolific paedophilia.
Murphy certainly wasn’t suggesting the criminalization of comedy when she was writing about Bill Cosby. Abusive behaviors can exist in any industry.
If there is a group better qualified to identify the boundary between consensual and non-consensual sex than Sex Workers then I don’t think it exists. It’s not my place to say anything more than that. I’m only qualified to stand and proudly be counted as a supporter of Sex Workers everywhere to be able to work freely, safely, without fear and with the same access to public services (and on the same terms) as any other member of society.
I had some doubts, because one would think that porn performers (who are legal sex workers) would not share the fear of calling police that other sex workers naturally have. But Deen’s ridiculous assertion that being a porn performer = ongoing consent destroys his credibility.
I just worry that this incident will lead to “helpful” legislation about consent that makes things worse for everybody.
Deen is as much a whore as these women, probably more so, with a diva attitude that resulted in bad behavior and/or resentment
I think that ripping up someone’s anus crosses the line somewhat beyond the “bad behaviour” mark. Let’s not fall prey to one of those negative male stereotypes – the notion that men become uncontrollable beasts when they are sexually aroused.
Well, think that men can lose a bit of control when aroused. But it isn’t like you don’t realize what you did afterwards.
And as a sex worker you should know how fragile the anus is. Sigh, what an asshat.
feminism is a hate movement….
most times they are happy throwing low status men under the bus, but here they are just as willing to do the same to women.
It’s funny because in feminist discourse they whine and complain about “Nice Guys” but allow predators right on in so long as they say the right things–a certain college professor comes to mind…
Don’t think it is a hate movement. Think it has a problem with looking at the top only.
Say statistics come out that more and more boys are failing in college, and that the top of university personnel is still only 10% women. (A lot of) Feminists will focus on this gap as something horrible, as even with more and more women in high education, they still cannot conquer the top. While missing the bigger problem. Men are falling behind. They even twist it around, feminism needs to fight harder for women as they still cannot reach the apex of the world.
While the average gender equality gets ignored.
Poor, stupid, women, whores, low status/under-performing men, stupid men, etc. They all get ignored and ridiculed, as you clearly observed. (Just watch popular media nowadays). Even POC have a hard time with feminism.
What college professor?
yes, looking at the top only…
https://stonerwithaboner.wordpress.com/2012/03/11/what-is-the-apex-fallacy/
soon they will call homeless men privileged, and say it is only because of their male privilege that they dare camp outside in cities whereas womyn find jobs they hate to survive or ask people for help so they don’t wind up on the street.
Liberals have no problem calling one movement such as white supremacy a hate movement so I will apply the same standard to feminism-it is delusional, illustrates one group as inherently and unquestionably superior-boom, there ya go, hate movement defined…
as far as the male feminist prof, let’s just say he was friends with Deen and had him visit on campus. Maybe they shared, ahem, tactics. But don’t quote me, cause I ain’t said sh*t…
No really, what professor? You are being a bit weird about it. This isn’t some sort of government conspiracy. James will not hit you over the head with something if you tell us.
And yeah, know about the apex fallacy, I heard about it before. It has however gotten a bad reputation now. And I gave a bit of a different definition to it than most. (You seem to define it as, assigning characteristics, I had it more defined as, focussing on, focus on what the top 1% creates, and assume there is something wrong with all of them). There is probably a better term for it.
And it is pretty natural to do so. People using the apex fallacy always say feminists do it. But the MRA’s/red pill people (who coined the term I think). Use it just as often.
haha, your no fun at all….
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Schwyzer
and, no I doubt either of those vegan pretty boi’s could hit me over the head. In fact, it wouldn’t be a fair fight, they’d just say “Don’t hit the face.” I’d be more afraid of being hit by a girl, my mom used to kick my dad’s ass on a regular basis.
and, Korg, I don’t like MRA’s/red pill poppers very much at all-in fact they seem a bit like the feminist’s they claim to hate.
And if you ask me why I don’t like MRA’s/pill poppers, well, just google Pigtow + and look at how they treat anyone who dares question Lord Elam…
I don’t think these women were but they certainly were accused of being whores:
“Secretary Clinton, you recently came out to say that all rape victims should be believed, but would you say that about Juanita Broaddrick, Kathleen Willey and/or Paula Jones? Should we believe them, as well?” the woman asked.
Clinton kept her response brief: “Well, I would say that everybody should be believed at first until they are disbelieved based on evidence,” she said.
follow up question should have been, “what evidence, madam?”
A better first answer would have been – “It is right to treat the accusers as if you believe them, and treat the accused as if you believe THEM, until enough evidence can be found to really decide the question. The accusation itself is some evidence.”
TBH I’m willing to side with Stoya here, because as a past victim of sexual assault, I know that most rapists and sexual predators in general are repeat offenders (like my own abuser). If it was one accusation I’d be willing to offer Deen the benefit of the doubt, but when a number of accusations come forward on one person, it’s a good indication of guilt.
Credibility doesn’t work that way, if after someone reports being abducted by aliens 1000 people immediately submit accounts of their own abductions they don’t make the original report more believable at all, and the supporting reports are indeed less believable the more of them there are. Certainly we can believe that these women don’t like Deen, though that some of them entered into long-term relationships with him makes their opinion questionable, but their complaints can’t be judged seriously as long as they are in the form of rumors and tweets.
Unfortunately, yes. It may be that this person really is just excessively disliked for other reasons by his accusers. There is certainly a number of possibilities for that. It is impossible to tell with what we know. Again unfortunately, what these women are doing is ruining him lynch-mob style without presenting evidence that others can actually verify. This does not mean he is not guilty, but the very process by which he is accused is extremely prone to manipulation and collusion and has been severely and frequently abused in the past. There have been countless witch-hunts were it later turned out that none of the accusations were true.
I am not willing to believe either side at this time.