LOS ANGELES—Noted sociologist and adult industry expert Chauntelle Tibbals, Ph.D. explores the dynamics of a “bromance” between two porn stars in an article posted to Playboy.com. Veteran performers, directors and longtime friends Barrett Blade (pictured, left) and Eric Masterson are the focal point of the piece.
“I’m extremely thankful to Eric and Barrett for letting me tell the story of their fascinating friendship, and to Playboy for sharing the article with its readers,” said Tibbals. “Many people see the adult industry as one dimensional, but there are so many complex relationships, interactions, and stories behind the sex scenes you see.”
As an adult industry expert with extensive research on the industry and its effects on society, Tibbals details the unique bond forged by Blade and Masterson. They have developed an ideal relationship to support each other and navigate through the challenges facing many male porn performers.
“I mean, we’re not holding each other at night or anything, but it’s good to know he’s always there,” Masterson says in the article. “We’ve been through a lot together: crazy stuff and funny stuff that only he and I get, shitty stuff, and everything in between.”
“One could look at Masterson and Blade and easily wonder how they fit together," Tibbals wrote. "Blade plays the dangerous bad boy, the rock star artist with an endless cache of ladies waiting in the wings. Masterson is the clean cut and beefy DILF-next-door. Funny and sparkly when he’s around friends, he’s quieter in public and less about the limelight. But in spite of their apparent differences, whether they’re shooting a double-penetration or going on a double date, they’ve been pretty much inseparable for the past fifteen years."
While pay for men working as performers has dropped over the years due to the industry’s ongoing struggles with the economy, the article shows how Masterson and Blade have taken more active roles behind the camera. Tibbals tells how she visited a film set where the two best friends relied on one another to get a scene shot:
“Barrett Blade stood waist deep in the backyard pool of a charming Spanish-style set house located deep in the San Fernando Valley,m" wrote Tibbals. "Balancing a camera high on his right shoulder, he was gearing up to capture some poolside action—his best friend Eric Masterson and a stacked English lass… “Aaaaand, got it!" yelled Blade at the end of the scene. Masterson was all business, immediately swooping down to grab the heavy camera and put a dry end to the potentially electrifying situation."
For more Chauntelle Tibbals, go here.
Image: Barrett Blade, left, and Eric Masterson, courtesy of playboy.com.
