Shortly after adult film star and writer Stoya publicly accused James Deen of rape over the weekend, several women quickly came forward to express their support for Stoya and share their own alleged instances of sexual abuse. Though Deen swiftly denied the allegations via Instagram, a third accuser came forward on Monday with a harrowing account of an encounter that allegedly took place at Kink studios. Following this series of events, the major adult film company has announced plans to sever all ties with Deen.
In a statement released toBuzzFeed News, Kink confirmed the decision while also reasserting their dedication to the safety and well-being of their performers:
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.
Deen has also resigned from his position as chairperson of the board of directors for the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee (APAC), a labor group that represents adult film stars. In a statement to Xbiz, the APAC board echoed Kink's efforts to assist performers in coming forward without fear of retaliation:
APAC recognizes the seriousness of the statements made by performers in the community and that they indicate a major conflict between a board member and other members of the organization. In the meantime, APAC will continue to provide support and guidance for adult performers. The APAC Board wants to state unequivocally that we stand with performers and other sex workers who are victims of any sort of sexual assault. APAC is committed to being a safe space for performers, and to creating a safer and healthier industry.
A spokesperson tells BuzzFeed News that, at this time, Deen has "no immediate comment" on the latest moves from Kink and APAC.
