COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina’s Republican Governor Henry McMaster held a ceremony on Wednesday combining the signings of the state’s new age verification law for adult content and a controversial ban on gender affirming care for trans youth.

During the photo-op showing him signing the bills into law, McMaster made a statement that conflated the laws as both aiming to “protect the innocence of our state’s children” against “threats” and “damaging influences online and off.”

H. 3424, South Carolina’s version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn activists, is also known as the “Child Online Safety Act” and was originally introduced in Dec. 2022. It passed the legislature on May 15 and was actually signed by McMaster on May 21. Age verification becomes effective on Jan. 1, 2025.

Wednesday’s ceremonial signing was deliberately scheduled by McMaster’s office to make a joint statement about the age verification law and H. 4624, the “Help Not Harm Bill” that denies gender affirming care to South Carolina’s trans minors. The joint ceremony dubbed both controversial laws “child safety legislation.”

“These signings reflect our commitment to ensuring the health and well-being of all our state’s children from damaging influences online and off,” McMaster said about the theater-like event, which unlike his May 21 signature, is not necessary for the law to go into effect. McMast added that he was “grateful for the support of the General Assembly and all those who have worked to bring these critical pieces of legislation to my desk.”

The Help Not Harm Bill, the governor’s office explained, “prohibits healthcare professionals from knowingly providing gender transition procedures to a person under 18 years of age. Gender transition procedures are defined as puberty-blocking drugs, cross-sex hormones, or genital or nongenital gender reassignment surgery, used for the purpose of assisting an individual with a physical gender transition.”

The bill “also prohibits public funds from being used directly or indirectly for gender transition procedures” of trans people regardless of age and “precludes the South Carolina Medicaid Program from reimbursing or providing coverage for these procedures.” 

The Child Online Safety Act, the governor’s office claims, “protects minors from harmful online content by mandating websites containing 33.33% or more material deemed harmful to minors implement an age verification system to ensure that users under 18 years old cannot access the material. Harmful online content is defined as material or performances that depict sexually explicit nudity or sexual activity that an average adult applying contemporary community standards would find that the material or performance has a tendency to appeal to a prurient interest of minors in sex.”

H. 3424 also “makes websites that produce obscene material or promote child pornography or child sexual exploitation liable to an individual for damages, court costs, and reasonable attorney fees as ordered by the court and is open to class action suits,” the governor office added.

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) Executive Director Alison Boden told XBIZ, “It’s unfortunate that South Carolina chose to join its neighbors in passing an ineffective website-based age verification mandate despite knowing that it’s unconstitutional.”

LAS VEGAS — Crystal Clark has dropped an EDC-themed clip series to her OnlyFans and ManyVids.

The first episode, titled “Stepmom And Step Aunts Epic EDC Weekend,” stars Clark, Oliver Faze, Coco Vandi and Quinn Waters.

The clip is streaming on Clark’s OnlyFans and ManyVids.

Follow Crystal Clark on X.com.

May 30, 2024 3:58 PM PDT

LAS VEGAS — PeterFever has released the first episode of its latest series, “Pink Lotus.”

Directed by Guy Criss and produced by Danny Zeeman, the “White Lotus” parody stars Nolan Knox and Travis Yukarin.

“This was a challenging shoot, being in Europe with amazing models who speak all languages,” said Criss. “Coupled with the European Grabbys’ whirlwind of events and socialization, and each model doing collabs on the side (as is the reality of the new porn world), we found a common ground to get an incredible project off the ground.”

The series is streaming on PeterFever.

SAN FRANCISCO — The California federal judge overseeing the lawsuit by Adult Performance Artists Guild board officers Alana Evans, Kelly Pierce and Ruby claiming that Meta conspired with OnlyFans to blacklist rival premium fan platforms’ talent, said during a Wednesday hearing that he thought the lack of archiving of its Dangerous Organizations and Individuals (DOI) list sounded “nefarious.”

As XBIZ reported, the three APAG officers informed the court in March that, although they want to drop their lawsuit due to a venue issue, they may still pursue antitrust claims in the future.

Evans, Pierce and Ruby originally filed the civil lawsuit in February 2022 against OnlyFans and its owner, as well as Instagram and Facebook’s parent company, Meta. The suit replicated claims from an earlier lawsuit filed on behalf of FanCentro in November 2021, alleging a conspiracy to engage in “tortious interference with contract and intentional interference with prospective business.”

Wednesday’s hearing was part of a current dispute between the plaintiffs, who want to drop the current case in a way that they could refile it, and Meta, who is seeking the judge to issue a summary judgment in the company’s favor.

The plaintiffs argue that Meta informed them that the company “found no evidence that any competitor platform was currently on the list, or had been nominated for inclusion.”

According to their motion, “based on the information Meta defendants provided, the information essential to plaintiffs’ class allegations is not available,” making further discovery efforts “futile.”

During this week’s hearing, U.S. District Judge William Alsup questioned the plaintiffs’ counsel strategy of not deposing the witnesses offered by Meta, but reserved his strongest language to lambast the tech giant for its peculiar record-keeping methods regarding updates and changes to its controversial DOI blacklist.

The rebuke followed Meta’s attorney K. Winn Allen explaining to Judge Alsup that Meta “has a collaborative review process before new users are added to Meta’s DOI list that involves Meta’s content team, policy team, communications team and legal departments, among others,” legal news site Law 360 reported.

Meta only produced selected old versions of the DOI lists that were included in the email communications disclosed during discovery.

The judge added that it bothers him that a large company like Meta would not have a protocol to regularly store and archive the different versions of its DOI list.

“That sounds nefarious to me, that you are destroying evidence before it is needed,” Judge Alsup told Meta’s attorneys when it was implied that the list was a living document, always mutating. Instead, he pointed out, “the list is not living, it dies each day.”

Judge Alsup appeared especially baffled by the practice of not keeping records on the list because of his background as a corporate attorney familiar with compliance issues.

“’My god, why don’t they keep that?,’” he said he thought when reviewing the statements by Meta’s attorneys. “If I was a lawyer, I would advise them to keep the document,” especially in order to share updates of the DOI list with law enforcement.

“So you see, I’m suspicious,” Judge Alsup told Allen. “Your explanation raises more questions than it answers.”

The plaintiffs celebrated the judge’s remarks as a victory.

“I am happy that the judge is having just as hard of a time as we are believing the data doesn’t exist,” Evans told XBIZ. “I hope to see this continue to move forward.”

May 30, 2024 3:56 PM PDT

LONDON — Estella Bathory and Adreena Winters will host the 2024 SNAP Awards, on June 27, at The Steel Yard in London.

“Renowned for bringing together the UK industry’s finest talent and celebrating their exceptional contributions, the SNAP committee has made significant efforts towards inclusivity by adding new categories,” said a rep. “These include independent productions, queer and trans talent, as well as niche and fetish performers. We can’t wait to see you there.”

For more information, click here.

Follow Estella Bathory and Adreena Winters on X.com.

May 30, 2024 3:55 PM PDT

LAS VEGAS — Kelsey Kane has made her Fit18 debut in the new scene “Kelsey Kane Initial Fitness Casting.”

Kane is featured in a fitness scene as well as a photo gallery on the site.

“This shoot with Fit18 was spec-fucking-tacular,” said Kane. “Everything that I could have hoped for actually happened while we were filming. Nothing about that smile you see in the free picture gallery is phony. It means so much to me as a dedicated athlete to be on a site that features such majesty and megastars who have not only inspired fans but inspired me.”

The scene is streaming on Fit18.

Follow Kelsey Kane on X.com.

May 30, 2024 3:54 PM PDT

LAS VEGAS — Pristine Edge will headline at Sapphire 39 in New York on Saturday.

Edge will perform at midnight and will be available for meet and greets and selfies. She will also offer VIP lap dances and sell her exclusive merch.

“I love the Sapphire clubs and can’t wait to appear at Sapphire 39 this weekend,” said Edge. “My East Coast fans are the best and always come out in full force for my appearances. Make sure to get there early for the best seats and be ready for an incredible night.”

For more information, visit Sapphire 39 online.

Follow Pristine Edge on X.com.

May 30, 2024 3:52 PM PDT

NEW YORK — AORTA Films and the Excéntrico porn film festival have partnered for the ninth instance of Bedded.

Excéntrico co-founder/program director Nicola Ríos will curate the bi-annual, queer, porn festival, which will stream on AORTA’s website from June 1-30. Additionally, AORTA is offering 10% off new website memberships through June with the promo code “BEDMEIX.”

“We believe an exchange like this is how we can give back to AORTA Films for their years of collaboration with us,” said Ríos. “Sometimes there’s no money, but there’s our work and other non-monetary forms of exchange. At the end of the day, this is how our community of pornographers survive.”

AORTA Films’ creative director Mahx Capacity enthused about the partnership.

“So much of my heart is wrapped up in this international, indie, porn ecology and queer archive that we are building together,” said Capacity.

For more information, visit AORTA Films; follow the studio on X.com.

MONTREAL — London River and Natasha Nice headline the latest release from Mile High Media studio imprint MILFED, titled “MILF Attack 3.”

Directed by Mike Quasar, the title also features Olivia Jayy, Jenna Starr, Zerella Skies and Piper Press.

“London and Natasha prove a formidable duo as they use their well-honed feminine wiles to seduce and have their way with two horny young studs,” said Mile High VP Jon Blitt. “Mike deftly captures the action as these gorgeous MILFs play out four steamy scenarios with real chemistry and intense passion.”

Click here for box art and additional details; follow River and Nice on X.com.

Direct sales and distribution inquiries to victoria@mile-high-media.com or call 800-363-0133.

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Roxie Sinner stars in a new threesome release from Ricky’s Room.

“Loving the Sinner” features Mazee the Goat and Eddie Jaye.

“Beautiful and talented Roxie Sinner is back for round two,” said studio honcho Ricky Johnson. “I hooked her up with two fine men to take care of her! Mazee and Eddie Jaye, new to my room, both got in on the action, and let me tell you, Roxie held her own. I guess I will have to add another body to the mix when round three happens. I can’t wait.”

Added Sinner, “I was set up for success when Ricky paired me with two of the top male talents the industry has to offer. I always have the best time on Ricky’s Room set with his amazing crew so coming back for banger like this one was no-brainer.”

“Loving the Sinner” is streaming on RickysRoom.

Follow Sinner on X.com.