So, here’s the scoop on James Deen—no, not James Dean (Hollywood’s sexy, chain-smoking rebel without a cause, circa 1950’s)—James Deen. He is one of today’s most mainstream porn stars, because his lean boy-next-door looks have provided him with a strong fanbase of young women. Deen has been extremely successful in the decade or so since his porn debut when he was 18. 
On November 28th of 2015, Stoya, Deen’s ex-girlfriend and costar in many pornographic films, broke her silence on Twitter about being raped by James Deen (see image below).
This was shocking to many fans, as the relationship between Stoya and Deen had often been referred to with phrases such as “the perfect couple” and “relationship goals.” Stoya felt that social media would be the most effective way to break her silence because, historically, sex workers who have pressed charges for rape are not granted justice, but rather are treated as less than human—as someone who can’t really be raped—because of their work in the sex industry. An article in The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/dec/04/how...) about the James Deen controversy points out that the way sex workers are treated in criminal cases is merely an exaggerated version of how most victims of rape are treated. “Whether you are a porn performer or not, for anyone who speaks out about rape, often it’s one’s sexual history that becomes the object of inquiry, not the rape.”
Following Stoya’s statement, other women—some porn stars, some not—began to make allegations of rape and sexual assault against Deen as well. At this point in time, no charges have been pressed against Deen, and he has denied all allegations. The number of women who have accused Deen of these crimes has increased to at least nine at this point in time, but it is hard to say how many women have come forward because the number is rising so quickly. Suffice it so say, the number is alarming.
What’s difficult about this story, and, more specifically, about the public’s opinion on this story, is our complete lack of understanding of the porn industry. Conner Habib, a writer and porn performer, stated that there is “a cultural commitment to keep [the public] from knowing what happens in sex work.” What may be surprising to many is that the porn industry has many regulations and committees to keep its community safe. It is not a free-for-all, and, although some BDSM films may convince folks that this is not the case, consent is always mandatory.
Porn films are scripted, and the actors are given the chance to refuse anything with which they are not comfortable. Pornography, as an industry, is not the deep, dark, creepy, illegal thing for perverts that it is often painted to be (although illegal forms of porn are produced everyday, these films are not produced by the same community of legal and regulated companies with which Stoya and James Deen are involved). Pornography is legal, and, as upsetting as this may be to you, it is a massive part of American culture. According to Covenant Eyes, 1 in every 5 internet searches are porn searches. We have to acknowledge that porn is not an isolated, far-off world, but it’s an extension and a partial reflection of the world we live in. Porn stars are getting raped. Human beings are getting raped. And that is everyone’s problem.
Much to Stoya’s pleasant surprise, Deen’s career was damaged by her allegations against him. The column he wrote for Frisky, a women's blog, has been discontinued. His roles as performer and producer on Kink.com have been discontinued. He has also stepped down from his position on the board of the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee. Much of the community has stood with Stoya and the other women who claim to have been victimized by James Deen in statements to news sources and on social media forums.
But, because the world we live in utilizes the work of porn performers and sex workers every minute of everyday, yet shames them for what they do and treats them as less than human, these women will never press charges against James Deen and therefore never get legal justice. And, I don’t know about you, but to me, that sounds like something that has got to change. We cannot continue being okay with the idea that sex workers are not sisters and fathers and spouses and citizens and humans. This story needs more coverage—more people need to understand the reality of what’s happening, and to help change the world’s cruel mindset towards sex workers and rape victims in general. Between .2% and 8% of rape accusations are false. This means that between 98.8% and 92% of rape accusations are true. Whether James Deen actually raped these women or not, it is far more likely that he did. I stand with Stoya, and so should you.
“I believe that no one is safe and no one is protected unless we’re all safe and protected, sex worker or not.” -Stoya
To read Stoya’s full statement about the abuse she endured at the hand of James Deen, sex workers’ rights, and her journey, visit the following website:
