Crush videos - showing sexually clad women crushing small animals beneath high heels and by other means, during sex acts as often as not - have been banned by federal law, now that President Clinton has signed legislation to outlaw the fetish films.
To comply with the First Amendment, the law makes exceptions for works of "serious religious, political, scientific, educational, journalistic, historical, or artistic value."
"The law would prohibit the types of depictions…of wanton cruelty to animals designed to appeal to a prurient interest in sex," says Clinton in an official statement.
Crush films came to public light in August, when The Tails of Charlie's Ankles aroused California Congressman Elton Gallegly to write the legislation and gather a rally for its support in Simi Valley which featured actor/animal rights activist Mickey Rooney.
That film prompted the arrests of its maker, Gary Lynn Thomason, and its star actress, Diane Chaffin. Chaffin pleaded no contest to three felony animal cruelty charges in November. Thomason is still awaiting trial in the case.
Gallegly had speculated the crush videos had blossomed into a nearly $1 million cottage industry, with individual films selling as high as $100.
