CHATSWORTH, Calif. — Digital Playground marketing director Adella appeared Thursday evening on CNN's "Prime News" to discuss the controversy surrounding a canceled student screening of Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Right-wing anchor Mike Galanos moderated the face-off between Adella and state Sen. Andrew Harris, the GOP politician who pressured university administrators into canceling the show by threatening to deny state funds to any school showing porn outside of a classroom setting.
Galanos made his position clear when he proclaimed that X-rated movies are worse than crack cocaine. He leaned heavily on the argument that porn is "addictive" and "ruins lives" of innocent viewers.
Harris compared watching porn to smoking cigarettes. If smoking is banned on a campus where porn is screened, then the school's priorities are clearly askew, Harris argued.
Adella countered this hysterical blast of outraged rhetoric by pointing out that Pirates II does not cater to fantasies of degradation or the abuse of women as Harris implied. She went on to mention that the movie is the product of a female-operated company.
Adella also pointed out that neither of her ideological opponents had seen the movie, making their criticisms a case of contempt prior to investigation. Galanos dismissed this argument by claiming that he'd "seen the trailer".
"I had a great time on CNN and relished the opportunity to engage in a discussion with those responsible for censoring consenting adults," Adella said. "It was empowering to educate the senator on the modern era of adult entertainment, including female owned and operated studios, female viewers, and the need to embrace sex."
Digital Playground has screened the Pirates films on campuses across the country without causing lung cancer, drug addiction, rape, or computer-generated booty raids.
The Pirates II controversy has attracted coverage by mainstream news outlets including: CNN, Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Washington Times, Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, Sacramento Bee, DrudgeReport.com, Laura Ingraham Show, Australia's NineMSM.com.au, McClatchyDC.com, and numerous additional publications and blogs.
Adam Kissel, director of the Individual Rights Defense Program at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, told the Baltimore Sun that the legislature was "far out of line ... I think because of the autonomy that a public university ought to have versus the legislature, the president should not have canceled the film."
Samantha Lewis, Digital Playground's CEO said, "The whole idea for the university screenings came from our desire to provide a forum for students to openly discuss the topic of modern sexuality, gender roles, and adult entertainment. The screenings also allow for those unfamiliar but curious about adult entertainment to see a movie that is story and effect driven and appeals to numerous people."
To read more about the canceled screening in the Baltimore Sun, click here.
