Aug 8, 2022 5:08 PM PDT

LOS ANGELES — Nikki Benz is the latest performer to guest on “Plug Talk,” which is hosted by Lena The Plug and Adam22.

The segment begins with Benz talking running for mayor of Toronto in 2014; though the idea was pitched to her by Brazzers, she did begin to think she could become a good mayor. However, though Benz is a Canadian citizen, all of her identification paperwork was from the United States.

Benz then pivots about to a discussion of “Baywatch,” which inspired her to get breast enlargement surgery, a procedure she could afford after becoming a stripper, and why she left the industry and returned when she learned about OnlyFans.

The full interview can be found on YouTube; follow “Plug Talk” on Twitter.

Follow Nikki Benz on Twitter and find her premium social media links here.

LONDON — U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 has scheduled its two-part documentary “The Rise and Fall of Ron Jeremy” to air Monday, Aug. 15, with both episodes available on Channel 4 platform All4.com once the first episode has aired.

According to a statement from Channel 4, the documentary will tell “the inside story of Jeremy’s 40-year porn career, revealing how his alleged crimes were eventually brought to light” and features archival footage as well as “insider testimony” and “exclusive access to the women accusing him.”  

In the first episode, the statement notes, “Jeremy shoots to fame during the 1970s and the ‘Golden Age’ of porn. He’s funny, smart and likeable, but rumors swirl that he assaults his co-stars. British porn star Lianne Young — who performed as Billie Britt — says Jeremy assaulted her at a party in full view of other people.”

In the concluding episode, “Jeremy has crossed over into the mainstream: making Hollywood friends, becoming a reality star and selling his own range of rum. But his alleged offending becomes more prolific.”

The documentary was produced by BriteSpark Films, which is part of the Argonon media group, and commissioned by Channel 4 factual senior commissioning editor Anna Miralis. It was produced by Lisa Charles and directed by Storm Theunissen, with Nick Godwin and Tom Porter serving as executive producers and international sales handled by Abacus Media Rights.

The Channel 4 documentary was originally produced under the title “Downfall of the Porn King: The Ron Jeremy Story.” A competing U.K. project titled “Ron Jeremy: Fall of a Porn Icon” aired on the BBC in November 2021. 

Ron Jeremy Still Incarcerated, Under Psychiatric Review

As XBIZ has been reporting, Jeremy is currently awaiting trial in Los Angeles, where he has remained in jail since his arrest in June 2020.

After an August 2021 grand jury indictment, Jeremy pled not guilty to 12 counts of forcible rape, seven counts of forcible oral copulation, six counts of sexual battery by restraint, four counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object, two counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious or asleep person and one count each of lewd act upon a child under the age of 14 or 15, sodomy by use of force and assault with intent to commit rape.

On July 26, a psychiatric expert for the defense issued a report asserting that Ron Jeremy is not competent to stand trial in Los Angeles for multiple sexual assaults and rapes.

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office has also hired its own psychiatric expert, who will produce another report assessing Jeremy’s competency.

The criminal case has been at a standstill since presiding Judge George Lomeli’s March 17 decision to suspend proceedings after he received reports from Goldfarb and the bailiff that the defendant was “incoherent” and could not be transported to court.

Judge Lomeli then referred the case to a mental health courthouse for a decision on Jeremy’s ability to stand trial. The judge recommended that psychiatrists on each side conduct evaluations to determine competency.

The case has been postponed until Oct. 3.

Last year, XBIZ published an exclusive detailed account of the 21 accusations that form the Los Angeles County district attorney’s case against Jeremy. It remains the only comprehensive journalistic account of the testimonies given before the grand jury in August 2021.

Main Image: Ron Jeremy (Photo: Channel 4/BriteSpark Films)

LOS ANGELES — Miami-based CLEAR Labs has partnered with Pineapple Support to provide testing for adult performers, which the companies say will be more efficient and less expensive.

LOS ANGELES — VR Bangers has released a brand-new interactive VR porn game, Agent 69, through its Dezyred.com imprint.

The game stars Maddy May, Ana Foxxx and Katie Morgan “playing some really interesting and interactive roles, and every single person interested in spending some time with them will surely enjoy the process of getting to know them and discovering their sexual secrets,” said a rep. “Inside Agent 69, you can become a top-secret agent; it will be all up to you whether you’re going to bang the girls — or die
trying.”

The game is compatible with most VR headsets and can be played in both 180- and 360-degree field of view.

“Our fans were waiting six months for this latest release, and I am sure that they won’t regret
it,” said VR Bangers CEO Daniel Abramovich. “The good news is that the new engine is up and running already and they won’t have to wait that long ever again.”

“All three girls, and our entire team, worked really hard to finish this game,” he added. “You have to understand that what we do at Dezyred is not a regular VR porn scene; consider it more as a ‘choose your adventure’ game, which takes a very long time to create, plan and assemble. That’s why the production process is way more sophisticated. But, at the same time, the results are way more satisfying.”

Inside the game, Abramovich added, users can unlock plenty of interesting content and “really move around an entire estate, which takes the interactiveness of this newest release to a brand-new level … it’s definitely worth discovering every nook and cranny of the game.”

Two more interactive games are scheduled for release later this year.

Agent 69 is free to play; visit Dezyred.com and register to begin playing, and follow VR Bangers on Twitter.

NEW YORK — Damiano Films, the producers of the 50th anniversary re-release of “Deep Throat,” have announced a “Vote Throat” campaign to nominate the 1972 “porno chic” classic for a slot in the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry.

“We urge you to ‘Vote Throat’ by Aug. 15,” said a rep. “Simply click on this link to the nomination form and type in ‘Deep Throat’. All U.S. citizens are eligible to vote for up to 50 films, and it’s free.”

Each year, the Library of Congress, which oversees the National Film Registry, selects 25 films for preservation based solely on suggestions from the public. To be eligible a film must be over 10 years old and be “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”

The Registry’s website strongly encourages the nomination of “‘the full range of American filmmaking.’ Yet, despite this claim, in the Registry’s 34-year history no adult film has ever been selected for induction,” the rep said.

Damiano Films offered a number of reasons for supporting the choice of “Deep Throat” for a slot in the Registry.

“‘Deep Throat’ premiered at the World Theater in Times Square on June 12, 1972 and played there on-and-off for more than 20 years,” the rep explained. “The public was enthralled, depositing $1 million dollars in the theater’s coffers in just the first seven weeks after it opened. By the end of six months, it had made another $2 million dollars. Since then, between theatrical and videotape/DVD sales, the film has earned at least $100 million, according to the FBI, though other knowledgeable sources put the figure as high as $600 million (more than $3.8 billion dollars today).”

The cultural impact of “Deep Throat” on American history, the rep added, is “indisputable.”

Celebrities who acknowledge having seen the film include Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Martin Scorsese, Jack Nicholson, Johnny Carson, Truman Capote, Barbara Walters, Doris Day, Warren Beatty, Richard Dreyfuss, Spiro Agnew, Nora Ephron, John Waters, Hugh Hefner, Gore Vidal, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Erica Jong, Dick Cavett, Helen Gurley Brown, Norman Mailer, Bill Maher, Sammy Davis Jr and Frank Sinatra, among others.

Moreover, the rep continued, “let’s not forget that the title was chosen as the name for the undercover FBI informant who broke the Watergate scandal.”

For more information, visit VoteThroat.org.

LOS ANGELES — ASACP will be returning to Prague for the TES Affiliate Conferences, set for Aug. 22-25 at the Vienna House Diplomat Hotel.

According to a rep, TES, an ASACP Sponsor since 2010, has been one of ASACP’s “most stalwart supporters, providing a high level of assistance that has enabled the association to educate operators across Europe and beyond about the vital need for online child protection.”

“From the onset, TES was intent on creating a great networking experience for its attendees and delegates,” the rep added. “In our high-tech world, it is still of supreme importance that excellent inter-personal relationships be developed and maintained. They are the cornerstones of building a successful business.”

In addition to promotion as a Silver-level exhibitor (space No. S1), TES has provided the association with a complimentary table at the event’s Meet Market (table No. 8), allowing ASACP to reach out to adult business owners and operators face-to-face.

At TES, ASACP Executive Director Tim Henning will educate app developers, website owners, service providers and other market stakeholders on how they can protect their companies while protecting children on the internet.

“I am very excited to reunite with everyone in person and for the opportunity to make new ‘real world’ connections,” Henning offered. “While virtual events have provided an easy and safe alternative for doing business in a world hamstrung by the pandemic’s travel restrictions, there is no replacement for in-person, one-on-one meetings.” The fight against harms to children online begins by educating website operators and app publishers about the newest business standards and practices for legal compliance, especially when user-generated content is involved. TES has long provided the association an unparalleled opportunity to reach the most diverse range of stakeholders imaginable. It is vital to ASACP’s educational, European outreach and annual fundraising efforts.”

ASACP Travel Sponsor, DialXS, has underwritten Henning’s admission to the event and hotel accommodations.

“Thanks to DialXS and the promoters of the TES Affiliate Conferences, ASACP can once again meet face-to-face with top business leaders as well as newcomers to the industry across a range of relevant market segments,” Henning concluded. “It is the perfect opportunity to deliver the association’s message of keeping children out of and away from adult-oriented entertainment.”

To schedule a meeting with Henning at TES, email tim@asacp.org.

Follow ASACP online and on Twitter.

LOS ANGELES — Next Door Studios has released a new installment of its “Fraternity Fantasies” series, starring Evan Knoxxx.

Exclusives Julian Brady, Elliot Finn, Jayden Marcos and Justin Matthews round out the cast.

The episode, titled “Blindfolds and Bukkake,” follows Knox as a handsome young fraternity pledge whose prospective fraternity brothers decide to test his skills by blindfolding him and making him guess whose dick he is servicing. Then Finn decides to up the ante with a special game of his own.

“Seeing so many of our exclusives in one scene is going to be a Next Door Studios overload,” said director Conrad Parker. “This scene was amazing to film and you will be able to tell as soon as you start watching it. Of course, as requested by Evan, the ending is nothing short of perfection with everyone finishing on his face. I don’t think his smile could get much bigger.”

Executive Producer Jeremy Babcock noted that having so many exclusives gathered on the same set at one time begged for a fraternity-themed shoot.

“How could we not make it a frat scene?” he said. “This series is always a blast to create.”

The last addition to the series, “Fraternity Fantasies: Not a Word” starring Andrew Miller and Carter Woods, was released in June.

“Fraternity Fantasies: Blindfolds and Bukkake” will premiere Saturday; visit Next Door Studios online and on Twitter.

NEW YORK — Billionaire investor Bill Ackman is continuing his campaign to financially isolate MindGeek and its subsidiaries, this time by targeting credit card company Discover in social media posts and inviting members of the public to join a class action suit against the adult company.

Yesterday Ackman tweeted, “I just learned that Discover is still providing payment services to MindGeek despite Visa and Mastercard’s suspension. This needs to stop now!”

He also tweeted, using the familiar language of TV ads and billboards for personal injury lawyers, “If you have been victimized by Pornhub, MindGeek or other affiliated sites, you may be eligible for a large amount of compensation for your harm. I encourage you to contact Mike Bowe, who is counsel to 70-plus victims who can help you pursue your claim.”

The reference is to attorney Michael Bowe, who previously represented Donald Trump and Jerry Falwell, Jr. 

As XBIZ reported, yesterday Visa announced that it will suspend card acceptance for MindGeek’s ad network, TrafficJunky, until further notice. The announcement followed media pressure from Ackman, Bowe and their ally, religiously inspired anti-porn activist Laila Mickelwait.

Visa announced its decision through a letter from CEO Alfred F. Kelly Jr., who was personally targeted as liable by Ackman, Mickelwait and Bowe during an appearance earlier this week on the CNBC financial news show “Squawk Box,” hosted by Andrew R. Sorkin.

During a lengthy tirade against MindGeek, Ackman urged Kelly to make Visa the ultimate arbiter of what is permitted online, without waiting for the outcome of pending civil litigation regarding user-generated uploaded content.

Kelly acknowledged that “it is not customary for an executive to weigh in on legal matters in advance of a final ruling,” but then carved a sentimental exception by explaining that “this situation, however, is different, and as CEO — and a father and grandfather — I feel compelled to speak out.”

Anti-porn activists groups are already celebrating Visa and Kelly’s decision as a victory for their “operation chokehold,” an attempt to use courts and the media to pressure private financial companies and internet platforms to decide what online content can and cannot be shared.

LOS ANGELES — Wicked Pictures has released the first scene from director-performer Seth Gamble’s “Money,” featuring Ivy Wolfe.

“What happens when greed and power-hungry ambition meet glamorous women and the darker side of desire?” a rep teased. “For multiple award-winner and Gamma contract performer Seth Gamble, the answer is ‘Money.’”

Produced by head of production Axel Braun, “Money” is a visual anthology showcasing five glam performers in scenarios that depict avarice and narcissism — but also empowerment.

“When I come up with my projects for Wicked, whether it is a non-narrative or a scripted feature, I want to strike a nerve, a feeling,” revealed Gamble. “I always love the expression, ‘People don’t remember what you do or what you have, they remember the way you make them feel.’ So for everything I do, I want to make as many senses go off as I can within the experience of the viewer.”

“I truly feel ‘Money’ has that undeniable vibe,” Gamble added.

The director also praised production team members James Avalon, Billy Visual and Shaun Rivera for “being so pivotal in helping bring this vision to life” and thanked friend and mentor Axel Braun for “once again believing in me and pushing me to do more, bigger, better.”

Gamble enthused that Wolfe “delivered on every level.”

“Believe it or not, this was actually the first time we ever worked together, and from the moment the day started I knew how fortunate I was to have her as a part of ‘Money,'” he said.

Wolfe described the Wicked shoot as “a pampering, delicious, innovative, dynamic and dirty experience — and it was fucking fun.”

“I was treated like royalty by royalty,” she said.

Vanna Bardot, Anna Claire Clouds, Violet Starr and Kenzie Anne round out the cast.

To watch the first episode of “Money,” visit Wicked.com; follow the studio, Ivy Wolfe and Seth Gamble on Twitter.

NEW YORK — The New York Times published an op-ed today by conservative pundit Yuval Levin advocating for state intervention “with real teeth” in overseeing minors’ social media use, and sensationally labeling “pornography” as “a vast, dehumanizing scourge that our society has inexplicably decided to pretend it can do nothing about.”

Levin’s piece does not offer any indication of how he differentiates, or how tougher laws might differentiate, between what he calls pornography and other kinds of sexual expression, such as art or educational materials.

The New York Times op-ed comes a few days into a revived mainstream media panic around online sexual content in the U.S., highlighted by an appearance on CNBC by billionaire investor Bill Ackman and religiously inspired anti-porn crusader Laila Mickelwait, pressuring Visa into discontinuing payment processing for an adult industry ad network. Yesterday Visa acceded to the demand.

Levin, a contributing writer to the Times’ Opinion section, is the editor of the conservative publication “National Affairs” and director of social, cultural and constitutional studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a think tank that promotes the ideas of noted right-wing authors such as Newt Gingrich, Dinesh D’Souza and Robert Bork.

In the piece, Levin opposes minors’ access to platforms like Instagram and TikTok, and asserts that “it was a mistake to let kids and teens onto the platforms in the first place.”

He proposes that Congress intervene by “raising the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act’s minimum age from 13 to 18 (with an option for parents to verifiably approve an exemption for their kids as the law already permits), and by providing for effective age verification and meaningful penalties for the platforms.”

He then goes on to declare that “real age verification would also make it possible to more effectively restrict access to online pornography — a vast, dehumanizing scourge that our society has inexplicably decided to pretend it can do nothing about,” adding that “concerns about free speech, whatever their merits, surely don’t apply to children.”

In fact, the First Amendment does not limit free speech rights according to age.