This Saturday, pornstar-actress-writer-educator-multi-hyphenate Stoya claimed that popular male pornstar James Deen raped her.
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 (@stoya) November 28, 2015
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. — Stoya (@stoya) November 28, 2015
After she tweeted that, reactions were swift. The Frisky immediately pulled future editions of their “What Would James Deen Do?” column, and have put a huge disclaimer on past editions. After Stoya came out, two other actresses, Toni Lux and Ashley Fires, came forward with similar stories. The Establishment posted an open letter to Deen, asking he stop performing in pornography.
The news prompted the hashtags #StandWithStoya and #SolidarityWithStoya, for people to tweet their support. One of the most notable was from fellow pornstar Joanna Angel, who also, at one time, had a relationship with Deen:
He’s dead on the inside and dead to me . He’s literally the worst person I’ve ever met . That’s all I’ll say for now #solidaritywithstoya
— Joanna Angel (@JoannaAngel) November 29, 2015
Other good tweets:
If ur saying “Not surprised abt James Deen, I’ve heard stories for years” then you’re part of the problem! Speak out! #solidaritywithstoya — Sensory Spiral (@SensorySpiral) December 1, 2015
“We shouldn’t believe her word. We need to wait for evidence.” The only evidence you’d accept is his word. #standwithstoya #YesAllWomen
— Amanda (@AmandaRTubbs) November 30, 2015
Came into work today to find that everything with James Deen’s name had been pulled from the shelves. ‘Twas very satisfying. #standwithstoya
— Lucas Brooks (@IntellectHomo) November 30, 2015
Ron Jeremy was a sex worker rapist (raped me) back in the day…before anyone talked about it #standwithstoya pic.twitter.com/ZxG2xx8mQO
— Lacey Logan (@MsLaceyLogan) November 30, 2015
@JamesDeen went from being the @MarkRuffalo of porn to its @BillCosby #solidaritywithstoya @stoya
— Jeff (@jeffrin) December 1, 2015
No she is not lying. There’s is NO doubt about that. If you do doubt it, then you’re a pathetic waste of oxygen. #standwithstoya
— Misha Styles♡ (@MaitrayeeChowd1) November 30, 2015
The idea that a woman who has a lot of sex ALWAYS wants sex & would never say no to sex is dangerous & wrong @UnSlutProject #standwithstoya
— Danielle Campoamor (@DCampoamor) November 30, 2015
Sadly, a necessary reminder: Just because a woman is a porn star or a sex worker, doesn’t mean she’s immune to rape. #standwithstoya
— Danielle Campoamor (@DCampoamor) November 30, 2015
Unfortunately, there were also attackers with offensively idiotic ideas, like the inexplicable “pornstars can’t be raped” argument:
can you even rape a porn star anyway? trespass seems a more appropriate charge given we are dealing with commercial cavities #standwithstoya
— dolo (@doloyeung) November 29, 2015
I can imagine possibility that Deen trespassed in Stoya’s anus or some such but rape talk non applicable. #standwithstoya
— dolo (@doloyeung) November 29, 2015
What does stoya earn for a fuck? A few grand? Amazing how these moral grotesques are hungry to imprison a man for 10 years over petty theft
— dolo (@doloyeung) November 29, 2015
Or the idea that she should have gone to the police instead of Twitter:
If #JamesDeen is in fact a rapist, so long as he walks free, no woman is safe from his predations. #standwithstoya #solidaritywithstoya
— Matt Forney (@realmattforney) November 30, 2015
Any woman who won’t report her rapist to the police is endangering the lives of other women. #JamesDeen #solidaritywithstoya #standwithstoya
— Matt Forney (@realmattforney) November 30, 2015
Either Stoya is lying about being raped, or she wants #JamesDeen to continue raping women. #solidaritywithstoya #standwithstoya
— Matt Forney (@realmattforney) November 30, 2015
James Deen himself commented on Twitter with denials:
There have been some egregious claims made against me on social media — James Deen (@JamesDeen) November 30, 2015
I want to assure my friends, fans and colleagues that these allegations are both false and defamatory
— James Deen (@JamesDeen) November 30, 2015
I respect women and I know and respect limits both professionally and privately — James Deen (@JamesDeen) November 30, 2015
In the past, too, Deen has made rape jokes on his Twitter — or rather, one “joke”, multiple times:
It’s not rape if you yell surprise… then it’s a party RT @danadearmond @JamesDeen it’s ok. You’ll be ass raping them in 6 years.
— James Deen (@JamesDeen) April 10, 2012
Things I’ve learned… It’s not rape if you yell surprise and if you put enough bbq sauce on anything it will taste ok — James Deen (@JamesDeen) February 19, 2011
@BuddhaBware no bail will be posted for those who try to test that… And that was supposed to say “its not rape if you yell surprise”
— James Deen (@JamesDeen) October 16, 2009
Due to the allegations, Deen has been dropped by Kink, a San Francisco porn studio that formerly frequently worked with him. Lux and Fires have also worked frequently with Kink. Deen has also stepped down as chairman of the Adult Performer Advocacy Board.
(Featured image via Graphic Descriptions)
