LOS ANGELES—Kink.com, Evil Angel Productions and Doc Johnson on Monday cut ties with James Deen in light of sexual assault allegations against him that surfaced on social media Saturday that he has denied.
In a statement, Kink.com said, “For the Kink.com community, as well as the larger BDSM community, consent and respect are sacrosanct. Effective immediately, Kink.com will cease all ties with James Deen, both as a performer and a producer.
“Our performers deserve not only safe sets, but the ability to work without fear of assault. Rape or sexual assault, with or without a safe-word, off-set or on, should never be accepted as a hazard of adult production. While many of the allegations against Deen are new, the pattern is alarming. Over the coming weeks and months, we will review our Model Bill of Rights to strengthen protections for performers off-set, and work with the larger industry to help performers that have been assaulted to more easily come forward.”
Deen had been a regular for the San Francisco-based Kink.com for several years, performing and producing a variety of BDSM-themed scenes.
Evil Angel issued a separate statement late Monday:
“In light of the recent accusations against James Deen, Evil Angel today has decided not to sell any newly created scenes featuring Deen. While our company presents what is consensual and exploratory about aggressive and rough sex, these accusations are of a nature so contrary to our company values that we feel it necessary to suspend the sales until more information is available.”
Doc Johnson, which manufactures a line of signature pleasure products from Deen, also indicated it would cease production on the toys.
“We are taking the allegations against James Deen very seriously,” said Chad Braverman, Doc Johnson’s COO and creative director. “And in light of the recent accusations we have decided to no longer proceed with the products that we make on his behalf.”
Deen earlier Monday voluntarily resigned his post as chairman of Adult Performer Advocacy Committee (APAC).
On Saturday he was accused of sexual assault by fellow adult star and former girlfriend, Stoya, in a series of Twitter posts.
He denied the allegation on Sunday in his own social media posts.
"There have been some egregious claims made against me on social media,” Deen wrote on Twitter and Instagram Sunday evening. “…I want to assure my friends, fans and colleagues that these allegations are both false and defamatory. ... I respect women and I know and respect limits both professionally and privately.”
Neither Deen nor Stoya responded to requests for comment on Monday.
TheDailyBeast.com on Sunday night reported two new assault allegations against Deen that surfaced after Stoya's revelation—one by former performer Tori Lux and another from performer Ashley Fires.
Diane Duke, CEO of the Free Speech Coalition, on Monday issued a statement on behalf of FSC.
“The Free Speech Coalition called on James Deen to step down from his position on the Board of APAC and cease adult production unless and until he is able to adequately answer allegations of rape and sexual assault that surfaced this weekend. The allegations against James Deen are deeply disturbing,” Duke said.
"Since Stoya came forward this weekend, many others in our community have shared stories, publicly and privately. We at FSC and in the adult entertainment community want to make it perfectly clear, it does not matter what you do for a living, nor what you do sexually: no always means no."
Kayden Kross, who is Stoya’s business partner in the content site, TrenchcoatX.com, said she is supporting Stoya.
“I'm very close with Stoya and I think very highly of her,” Kross told AVN Monday. “She has shown herself again and again to be thoughtful and thorough about the subjects she addresses. I've been aware of this issue for a long time. At the time that she decided not to speak up, I understood her reasons. Now that she had decided to come forward, I support her just as much and understand those reasons as well.
“The conversations that are being explored now are much bigger than she intended or expected, and for all of the negativity surrounding this story, I think we can at least be thankful for that. Sex workers are not merchandise or property that can be stolen from or trespassed on. They are human beings with the same rights to state their limits and expect that those boundaries be respected."
TheFrisky.com on Sunday said it would discontinue Deen's sex advice column that had been running since May.
