After a lengthy back-and-forth with James Deen’s publicist and lawyer, the embattled porn star agreed to an interview by email with Aurora Snow of The Daily Beast—and only on the condition that the interview be published in its entirety.
Nine women so far have come forward with allegations of sexual abuse and/or assault at the hands of Deen. Stoya, a fellow adult film star and ex-girlfriend of Deen’s, was the first to accuse him publicly, tweeting on Nov. 28: “James Deen held me down and fucked me while I said no, stop, used my safeword. I just can’t nod and smile when people bring him up anymore.”
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Here, James Deen breaks his silence.
GQ once labeled you “the well-hung boy next door” and you’ve had a squeaky clean public image until now. Personally speaking, you’ve always been very kind and professional to me on set. I was shocked by the allegations against you, but as you know these kinds of allegations are difficult to dismiss.
I honestly am shocked as well. I am extremely happy to hear that you have always had good and respectful experiences with me.
Let’s start right from the beginning. On Nov. 28, Stoya tweeted: “James Deen held me down and fucked me while I said no, stop, used my safeword. I just can’t nod and smile when people bring him up anymore.” Why would your ex and former scene partner claim such a thing?
I do not know at all. I am completely baffled. I also can’t speak to her motivations. There are public articles all over the internet, written by her, that make the exact opposite claims. She discusses how we communicated and how we were very careful with consent especially when involved with rough sex. What I do know is that Stoya and I did not have a clean break up. It was pretty messy, full of a lot of emotions and both Stoya and I are to blame for that. She made threats towards me and harassed one of my employees. She spit at this employee as well as sending very inappropriate texts. I have spent this past week terrified and confused so I can’t help but run through the details of our relationship in my head. The reason Stoya made this claim could be as simple as her finding out that my current girlfriend and I are moving in together. We have mutual friends, one of our friends notified Stoya of this information. It could be as calculated as Stoya trying to drive traffic to her website. Which I have to say is very well done and I am proud to have the movie I produced for her up on the site, but the same day this happened she pinned a tweet about her site that just so happened to have an update with me in it right above this madness. I can’t speak to her reasoning or motivations.
After Stoya made her shocking allegations on Twitter, Tori Lux issued a written statement claiming you assaulted her. Tori claims she gave a firm “no” and then “[James Deen] proceeded to straddle my chest, pinning down my arms with his knees. Then, he raised his hand high above his head, swinging it down and hitting me in the face and head with an open palm. He did this five or six times—hard—before finally getting off of me.” What happened on that set?
I can safely say that did not happen. All of the accusations are from either ex-girlfriends or events that happened on set. I always try to take responsibility for my actions and apologize when needed. As far as these other claims, at a certain point I feel like people have to step back and analyze this stuff in context. Most of these are descriptions of things on BDSM or rough sex sets. When I am on set I am under instruction of the company who is paying me. I could describe the events of the scene I was in the other day and it could be just as dramatic. I have no desire to blame people who consider themselves victims or throw stones. I will just say this: my job as a performer for rough sex companies is to engage in certain acts. If at any point I pushed boundaries past the point of comfort, I am sorry. I have always tried to respect peoples’ limits and safe words and operated within that space. If someone expressed anything to me I honored the request with the fullest care.
You’ve said on Twitter that you “respect women” and “know and respect limits both professionally and privately.” While that has been my own experience with you, it does beg the question: why are so many women now claiming that you did not respect their limits?
Until recently, I had no knowledge that any limits or boundaries were considered violated. Some of these women and I have remained friends with no mention of this until now. As far as why they are coming forward, I have heard many stories from many different performers who have engaged in all sorts of various acts and then after either retiring, taking a break, or slowing down in the adult industry, change their desires and perceptions about things that have happened in the past. I HATE the idea that something a performer experienced would ever be a thing they regretted or that they considered a violation after the fact. I don’t want to blame other people, especially the victim, but if people don’t communicate things when they’re happening then it is not possible to honor retroactive boundaries.
A number of women claim they’ve said “no” and you continued anyway. What kind of misunderstanding is happening?
The claims are inaccurate or out of context.
The most recent allegation is from Nicki Blue. She told the Daily Mail, “I started giving him [oral sex]. It was nice at first, then it got really rough. I kept trying to pull my head up to say something, it was too rough… he would just push my head back in so I was choking and I couldn’t say anything… As he was doing it—this is the embarrassing part and why I didn’t say anything—he said, ‘Oh my God, I have to go to the bathroom,’ and he pissed in my mouth.” Will you give me your account of this?
There is photographic evidence that was posted on her own Tumblr page showing other employees of Kink.com performing these acts on her. Specifically, a director/pro dom and the former head of their marketing department. I know I sound like a broken record saying over and over again that things are inaccurate or untrue, but when there is photo or video evidence contradicting this stuff it is hard to not be a little defensive.
Do you think there is a misunderstanding happening somewhere, a breakdown in communication between you and the accusers? And what are those misunderstandings, if any?
From everything I am reading it seems as if things are being distorted by the press or are inaccurate. I do believe there is pressure on sets for people to perform in certain ways that they may later regret. I do believe the adult industry needs a better structure for preventing and reporting on set misconduct. I do also believe that people need to take responsibility for their own actions. There was a site I did multiple scenes for that was extremely rough. I started to hear a lot of negative comments from a lot of people about their feelings after the scenes. I felt the site gave the wrong message and was handled incorrectly. It was extremely violent sex dictated by the company. I felt uncomfortable, so I quit working for the site. I don’t remember communication breakdowns.
Why do you think all of these allegations are just now coming to light?
Multiple women have told me journalists have offered them up to five thousand dollars for stories about me. Any description of a porn scene can be made to sound sensational. Again, I’m not blaming the victim and if anything ever happened that was over the line I want to apologize and ensure that when communicated these things DO NOT HAPPEN. At this point I am just waiting for everyone who has ever disliked me ever from my entire life to come out with some extreme story or interpretation of how horrible I am. Like I said, I have never claimed to be a feminist or a nice guy, or the boy next door or anything like that. I am a pornographer. It’s all I ever wanted to be. I believe in respect and equality and doing unto others but that does not make me anything more than a pornographer who believes in these values.
Several companies were quick to sever ties with you when these allegations surfaced. How do you feel about that?
I hate to throw stones but at this point, fuck it. I fired Evil Angel over a year ago. I had to have my lawyer contact them multiple times to stop them from distributing my product. The idea that they stopped doing anything is ridiculous. As far as Kink.com goes, there are plenty of issues there that have been well-documented in the media. I am an easy place to place the blame for their own issues.
Considering the allegations, what are your regrets?
I have very few regrets. I love my job and I pride myself in what I do. I won’t throw my ex-girlfriends under a metaphorical bus because I made the choice to date them. I know what I did and what I didn’t do. My family and the people who know me don’t care about this because they know it is untrue and ridiculous. I started in this business when I was 18 years old. People have watched me grow up in it. They have seen me change from an irresponsible arrogant child to a more responsible, less arrogant man-child, to an ideological still-kinda-arrogant almost 30-year-old man-type person. I admit I was an immature jerk. I admit I pissed off a lot of people.
On Twitter, you’ve claimed, “These allegations are both false and defamatory.” How do you intend to try and set the record straight?
Well, to begin with, I’m answering your questions. Secondly, I’m not going to play whack-a-mole with every accusation and do to their reputations what they are trying to do to mine. I know some people will understand me and what I’m saying, and some may be offended by it and say even worse things as a result. We live in a world where accusations get great attention and no one really seems to want to get the truth. I’m in porn, and when you take porn activity into polite society it sounds really twisted. The media needs stories and I can see how this is one hell of a story. And finally, I want to remind people that I am not the subject of any lawsuits, I am not under criminal investigation, and at this moment I have no intention of filing defamation suits against false accusations.
Personally speaking, you’ve always been very kind and professional to me on set. I was shocked by the allegations against you
the same day this happened she pinned a tweet about her site that just so happened to have an update with me in it right above this madnesssmoking gun right there
Bill Cosby vindicated, now I can watch Ghost Dad without guilt.
Bill Cosby vindicated, now I can watch Ghost Dad without guilt.
and masturbate to it? :phil
Anyway I don't think it's out of bounds for her to mention she's had multiple experiences/scenes with him and nothing bad happened.The point is she should have never been doing the interview in the first place.
just once i'd like to hear a rapist's first comments be something like "YEAH I DID IT AND I'D DO IT AGAIN"
Anyway I don't think it's out of bounds for her to mention she's had multiple experiences/scenes with him and nothing bad happened.The point is she should have never been doing the interview in the first place.
Don't involve yourself in the lives of damaged people. It never ends well.
All of the accusations are from either ex-girlfriends or events that happened on set.
Anyway I don't think it's out of bounds for her to mention she's had multiple experiences/scenes with him and nothing bad happened.The point is she should have never been doing the interview in the first place.
I’m not going to play whack-a-mole with every accusation and do to their reputations what they are trying to do to mine. I know some people will understand me and what I’m saying, and some may be offended by it and say even worse things as a result. We live in a world where accusations get great attention and no one really seems to want to get the truth. I’m in porn, and when you take porn activity into polite society it sounds really twisted. The media needs stories and I can see how this is one hell of a story. And finally, I want to remind people that I am not the subject of any lawsuits, I am not under criminal investigation, and at this moment I have no intention of filing defamation suits against false accusations.
Also worth noting a lot of porn stars who haven't accused him of sexual assault have said he's a complete asshole to work with. Being an asshole doesn't make you a rapist but all the stories agree he's very aggressive, doesn't listen, etc etc. Yea he's probably a rapist brehs.
Not to mention that a lot of those shady, super hardcore porn studios probably rape a ton of girls yearly. Lots of new chicks are funneled to those studios, do one scene, get brutalized, and never do porn again.
You can't imagine why it would be better to have a neutral interviewer for this?Anyway I don't think it's out of bounds for her to mention she's had multiple experiences/scenes with him and nothing bad happened.The point is she should have never been doing the interview in the first place.
Why not?
You can't imagine why it would be better to have a neutral interviewer for this?Anyway I don't think it's out of bounds for her to mention she's had multiple experiences/scenes with him and nothing bad happened.The point is she should have never been doing the interview in the first place.
Why not?
who the hell is this interviewer?
who the hell is this interviewer?I think she e-mailed all the questions and he e-mailed the answers back.
How does someone say "The claims are inaccurate or out of context." and the interviewer not say "I know that's what your lawyer told you to say, but what I asked was..."
Is only limiting yourself to Girl/Girl the best way to protest this?
:dunno
Ugh. Can't believe I paid for a membership for his site:lol :lol
Scratch that. I can't believe I paid for porn
Ugh. Can't believe I paid for a membership for his siteBe fans of male porn performers brehs
Scratch that. I can't believe I paid for porn
Is only limiting yourself to Girl/Girl the best way to protest this?
:dunnospoiler (click to show/hide)Guy's a grade A scumbag that needs the book thrown at him if this is all proved in court[close]
His amateur series was aces. Especially cuz I knew a girl who shout two porns with him
Ugh. Can't believe I paid for a membership for his siteBe fans of male porn performers brehs
Scratch that. I can't believe I paid for porn
:beliUgh. Can't believe I paid for a membership for his siteBe fans of male porn performers brehs
Scratch that. I can't believe I paid for porn
:beliUgh. Can't believe I paid for a membership for his siteBe fans of male porn performers brehs
Scratch that. I can't believe I paid for porn
Why do people even know porn dude names? Who gives a shit about them?
Is that really a stupid question? I think it's safe to assume men account for the majority of porns audience. I don't think many well known performers male or otherwise got famous due to their overwhelming fanbase of straight women.
Clearly people do single out certain guys. Or avoid others because they won't shut the hell up.Yeah, NOBODY wants to hear a male voice while they're jackin' it.
Isn't there clearly a trend of people wanting pornstars to be attractive regardless, clearly
I hate when the directors start talking from off camera, especially since every porn director I've ever heard talk sounds like the sleaziest scumbag in the world. I like to be pure of mind and spirit, and that shit just makes me feel dirty inside.
Is that really a stupid question? I think it's safe to assume men account for the majority of porns audience. I don't think many well known performers male or otherwise got famous due to their overwhelming fanbase of straight women.
I have to be able to relate to the dick in the scene. Otherwise it's like trying to get into a movie or tv series where I hate the protagonist, like Evangelion or some shit.
Nope, a male performer has never effected a single porn I've watched. He can just lay there for all I care. I'm not watching it for them. The male performer has no bearing on the porn unless of coarse you're watching to be turned on by them.Why do people even know porn dude names? Who gives a shit about them?
Because the vid can be utter shit or great due to the male performer on set?
Also "people", heterosexual women give a shit plenty, why do you think Deen got so popular in the first place.
Ask stupid questions brehs.
You're really postulating that no one cares about male performers in a thread on a homoerotic forum about a popular male performer.I doubt normal people give a shit. Amateur porn and POV porn sell purely on the girl. I can't help that a few eccentric porn viewers here give a shit about the dude fucking the girl. But even then they care a bit too much.
:comeon
Lex, Mandingo, Jack Napier, etc all were pretty damn good about giving the woman a platform to shine on.I mean the BBC bias is pretty big here. Just come out of the closet.
Why do people even know porn dude names? Who gives a shit about them?
Nope, a male performer has never effected a single porn I've watched. He can just lay there for all I care. I'm not watching it for them. The male performer has no bearing on the porn unless of coarse you're watching to be turned on by them.
One is a porn star who can't shut up and always has to have long sessions before the fucking where he mumbles through four play dialogue, the other can't shut up about how large he is going in and yet can't ever get fully erect, and the other is as bland as any porn man can be.
And you're being a bitch, how expected.
I hope James Deen rapes you.
I'm at 700+gigs of porn and counting. There's no going back.
You're mad that Lex does a little intro? I enjoy him giving a preview of what's going to happen. It sets the scene. Perhaps it's an homage to The Twilight Zone. But I guess artistic shit like that isn't interesting to you.why the fuck would I want artistic shit in porn? Get straight to the fucking please.
A reminder about Rahxephon91:So what your saying is that I know my porn and I'm right. Thanks
http://www.thebore.com/forum/index.php?topic=42937.msg2006906#msg2006906QuoteI'm at 700+gigs of porn and counting. There's no going back.
A reminder about Rahxephon91:So what your saying is that I know my porn and I'm right. Thanks
http://www.thebore.com/forum/index.php?topic=42937.msg2006906#msg2006906QuoteI'm at 700+gigs of porn and counting. There's no going back.
It's probably more now.
don't. I'm sorry I can't tell a porn actor by the discoloration on the head of his cock. Yeah that expertise escapes me.I to not care about the male in straight porn if you're a dude.A reminder about Rahxephon91:So what your saying is that I know my porn and I'm right. Thanks
http://www.thebore.com/forum/index.php?topic=42937.msg2006906#msg2006906QuoteI'm at 700+gigs of porn and counting. There's no going back.
It's probably more now.
You should never consider yourself an expert on porn
Plenty of good scenes aren't on streaming websites. Easier to have what you want and like on demand.
I think what he's saying is you have an unhealthy relationship with porn and might not be a reliable source of norms.Unhealthy? I'm not the one here analyzing porn cock like Roger Ebert to film.
They watch porn as jerk off material and leave it at that...Plenty of good scenes aren't on streaming websites. Easier to have what you want and like on demand.
:gurl
Tell me the finer points of what "normal" people do again.
Entire libraries though? :gurl
Yeah people never had Playboys and porn vhs ever.
I have to be able to relate to the dick in the scene. Otherwise it's like trying to get into a movie or tv series where I hate the protagonist, like Evangelion or some shit.
Please go on about this.
Well in some ways the dick is the protagonist in a hetero porn film.