Vivid Entertainment Group today reaffirmed its policy of mandatory condom use and HIV testing for performers in its films. Vivid co-chairman Steven Hirsch criticized recent media reports on the adult entertainment industry for "sloppy reporting" and a one-sided bias. rnrn
"There have been recent press reports on the adult industry that I consider sloppy and biased because they have tarred the entire adult industry with a single brush, even though companies such as ours act responsibly on issues regarding our employees' welfare. We are absolutists when it comes to mandatory condom usage by male performers in our films. There are no exceptions to our rule, just as there are no exceptions to our insistence that all performers be tested for HIV and other diseases within 30 days of making a movie for us. If testing became a matter of law we would be in full compliance. We have never had a case of HIV on a Vivid production. We have never had a complaint about the working conditions on our sets, which have been visited by literally hundreds of reporters and media crews. For many years we have put a message at the beginning of each of our movies urging viewers to follow the U.S. Surgeon General's safe sex recommendations," said Hirsch in a statement released to the press. rnrn
"When we made the decision to use condoms in our films we were greeted with some negative response from the adult industry. Some performers refused to work for Vivid. Some actors felt they should be able to make that decision themselves and couples that worked only together didn't think condoms were necessary. Our policy also affected domestic and international sales, because some viewers would rather watch movies without condoms, believing condoms take away from the fantasy. Our productions became more expensive because scenes often take longer to shoot as a result of condom usage. While we have chosen to act responsibly, some people in our own industry have used this as a tactic to market against us. We continue to insist on condoms for the safety of the performers and because we want to set a good example for those who watch our movies, particularly since Vivid films have a very strong appeal to the couples market." rnrn
Condom use has been mandatory at Vivid since August 1, 1998. Vivid also requires all performers in its features to go to the Adult Industry Medical Health Foundation (AIM) to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases, at which time they are informed about health insurance benefits and other safety programs available to them through AIM.rnrn
In addition, Vivid considers its performers to be employees while working for Vivid and extends Workmen's Compensation coverage to them. rnrn
Hirsch also noted that his company recently licensed a line of Vivid Condoms that will soon be sold throughout the country. rnrn
Hirsch made his remarks in a statement issued in response to queries about recent negative press reports on safety standards in the adult industry, such as the The Los Angeles Times Magazine that ran earlier this month and an ABC News Prime Time Live program that aired last week.
