Think you got problems? Hear what Sunset Thomas has to say about what it's like being a porn star living in the Lone Star.
Thomas: "I got a long story for you. The first thing that happened to me was the IRS went after me for 1994, 1995 and 1996. They settled for 1994 but wanted $100,000 for 1995 and 96. They didn't give me any credit for expenses like when you go on the road, costumes, things like that. Then, the city where I live, George West, Texas, a population of 3,000 people, they had an anit-porn week at the beginning of the year. And guess what? There's no porno sold there. There's no porno magazines, nothing. They don't even sell Penthouse Magazine. No video stores. But they decided to have an anti-porn week."
Thomas believes that she was specifically targeted.
Thomas: "I definitely believe it was pointed at me. Everyone knows who I am. I thought that was cute. Then, in March, the school tried to suspend little Zachary, my son, a first grader, for kissing two little girls on the cheek. That's all he did. They were trying to say it was sexual harassment for kissing little girls on the cheek. In that school, the kids don't get suspended for fighting, but they do for showing affection. I don't understand that.
"They [the school] sent this little thing that we should do with our kids. They said that we need to show our kids affection and how to be affectionate with other people. Then they try to suspend my son. It's crazy. Two weeks later someone called the Child Protective Service on me. They said I left little Zachary alone at the ranch. I was on a dance gig in New York at the time. They went out there and, when they did, of course, little Zachary wasn't alone. He was with big Zack. Zack asked them what they were doing on the ranch. They told Zack they heard that I was leaving little Zack alone. Obviously, no. I thought that was a little wacky. It was like one thing after another.
"Zack then flew out two days later [the boy was dropped off at the babysitter's] and that's when the house burned down. On March 26, someone or something burned down my house. It was a beautiful, 8,000 square foot house. The state fire marshal said it was undetermined, they couldn't find out what the cause was. The insurance investigation said there was evidence of gasoline under the water heater. But it's an electric water heater. I don't understand any of this. In a way it was lucky that Zack came up to stay in New York. Those two could have been in the house. I could have lost a husband and my child.
"Then, a get a phone call on March 30. My mother-in-law had a massive heart attack. She had to have a double bypass and valve replacement surgery. So I ditched town and went to Florida right away. I had to be there for my mother-in-law. She's 75 years old. It was really tough for her but she was getting better. Then her husband dies. On top of everything else that was going on, that was really tough, too.
"I don't want any more bad luck. I'm going nuts here. Then I had to turn around with what little money I had left after paying bills to get an apartment. Then we bought clothes. We had no clothes. Of course I pulled him out of that school in George West. We're staying right now in Corpus Christi in an apartment. I hate it. Then my truck blew up.
"I knew a lot of people didn't like me there in George West, but I'm not the type of person that was going to run just because of what I do. I'm proud of what I do. I stayed."
Thomas, who lived in the community about two years, said the locals wouldn't talk to her or would act like she wasn't around. According to her, one time she went to the local chicken palace and was refused service. "I told them you don't serve me right now, I'll sue you."
"I always wanted a big ranch. That's always been my dream since I was a little girl. So, of course, I couldn't find that in California. It was too expensive. I always wanted to live in Texas because, when I was little, I lived here. I couldn't figure out exactly where I wanted to be, either. Dallas or wherever. So, believe it or not, I actually closed my eyes and pointed on the map. It was an adjoining community to George West. We couldn't find anything there that I liked but got a real good deal on property here. I wanted to get away so little Zachary could have a normal life. When I'm on the road, I'm Sunset, when I'm at home I separate the two lives.
"Then, it happened that my brother came down and I hired him as my ranch hand. Of course he thought it was something that would make him look macho and more popular, so he started bragging about me. Then, everyone in town started figuring out who I was. That didn't help. I put George West on the map.
"The thing I don't understand. It was an 8,000 square foot house. Why didn't someone see that fire? No fire engine. No police. No one knew anything about it. What happened is, my best friend, when I'm on the road, she goes out there and checks up on things. They went out there on a Friday and the house was gone. There was nothing left of the place. They called the cops and it took them five days to get there and investigate. I was really mad.
"I got eight years of my life in there. We lost probably 400 grand. I had a lot of stuff in that place. Between having to try settle with these guys [the IRS] and turning around and paying bills for things that I don't even have anymore, it's hard to keep up. It takes time.It's hard coming from having all kinds of stuff to nothing. Someone give me a break. Then, I just had surgery. I had my tonsils taken out, so I've been out of work for that.
"I haven't been able to get on the website and keep up with fans. I've been too emotional. I got to get out to the [Bunny] Ranch and make some money. I like it that way better. I had some people mention something about benefits. I don't want that."
Thomas who will be at the Bunny Ranch July 8 to July 18 ["Zack will be out there, too, for the ladies"] would like to get involved in more video projects.
