BOCA RATON, Fla.—Online adult industry pioneer and former VS Media/Flirt4Free president and CEO Greg Clayman has passed away. He was 56 years old, and no cause of death has been given.
The news of Clayman’s death was confirmed on Friday morning to former VS Media/Flirt4Free marketing director Kimi Evans.
“Greg was one of those rare people who quietly changed a lot of lives just by believing in people and giving them a shot,” Evans told AVN.
“I had the privilege of serving as marketing director at Flirt4Free for about 10 years, and like so many others in this industry, I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity he gave me. He built something special, but more importantly he created a place where a lot of us got to grow, learn, and build careers we’re proud of,” she said.
“He was a true visionary and a genuinely good guy. There are a lot of people out there who owe a piece of their journey to Greg’s guidance and trust. He will absolutely be remembered, and he will definitely be missed,” Evans added.
Born in Bangor, Maine, Clayman grew up in Manchester, N.H., graduating from Bentley University in Waltham, Mass., in 1992 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Management. He was recruited out of college to immediately begin working in the life insurance and financial services industry, as reported by AVN’s Dan Miller in 2017, when Clayman delivered the keynote address at online adult industry conference Internext.
Based on a concept for being able to “chat” with insurance clients live online, Clayman worked with a web developer in the mid-‘90s to create an early video conferencing platform—then quickly realized the technology could be applied to online adult entertainment. Before long, he had abandoned the idea for the internet insurance advisory, going on to found VS Media and what would eventually be the pioneering video chat site Flirt4Free in 1996, while also developing business models and payment infrastructure that would become the basis for the online adult industry.
Clayman would go on, in 2009, to be inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame – Internet Founders Branch, along with VS Media co-founder Chuck Tsiamis.
“In a constantly evolving world of online communications, VS Media builds enterprise level interactive live video chat platforms and robust billing solutions. We stream millions of hours of live video content monthly to customers from around the globe. Our technology crosses both geographic and platform boundaries via a distributed network of datacenters on six continents,” Clayman said on his LinkedIn page.
“Greg was a good man and calculated boss. He made calls that others would not and hung on when others would let go. He was generous when he didn’t need to be and always treated me as an equal, even when I was just the new kid they hired. He should be remembered as an innovator and a disciplined businessman with a good heart,” said Jeff Wilson, former director of business development and VP at VS Media/Flirt4Free.
“Greg’s unexpected passing has left a massive void in the world. I’m heartbroken for his family, friends, and anyone that ever had the pleasure to meet him. Greg was a brilliant businessman and always made me smile. There are too many stories of Greg’s adventures and I feel fortunate that I was able to share some of them with him. He will be tremendously missed,” said industry attorney Corey Silverstein, who worked with Clayman.
“This news has come as a shock to all of us. Greg was more than a founder—he was a father, a mentor and a friend. His vision built this company, but his kindness is what people will remember most. He leaves behind a legacy that has touched the lives of many, and he will be deeply missed,” current VS Media/Flirt4Free President and CEO Craig Miller told AVN.
At the time of his death, Clayman was listed as angel investor and business consultant at Sobe Ventures AI and president at Pulse Point Management, located in Boca Raton, Florida.
