‘We lost five women’: Porn industry reckons with assault allegations and a string of deaths (Washington Post)

Read the full article by Dennis Romero at washingtonpost.com

“We lost five women,” says adult star Tasha Reign. “If you are going to join the adult industry, it’s a hard transition. Society, your family and your friends will treat you differently. That’s the hardest thing about becoming an adult performer.”

Many of the women getting into porn for the first time are 18 and 19 years old, she notes. “Nobody is prepared for cyberbullies and family and friends disowning you.”

Even in this “Me Too” environment, performers are publicly attacked for claiming that they were violated sexually on set, observers say. “If a female performer says something about an on-set experience there will be 100 responses, and many are saying, ‘This is what you do for a living,’” said attorney Karen Tynan, who has represented performers and directors in sexual harassment claims.