James Deen is back in the news for yet another not-so-good reason after his porn production company was slapped with an almost $78,000 series of fines for multiple health and safety violations.

California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) received a complaint about James Deen Productions, also known as Third Rock Enterprises, last December, and began investigating the production company owned by Deen. The violations that were discovered by Cal/OSHA include not mandating that performers wear condoms. The use of condoms in pornography is required by Los Angeles County law. According to the head of the agency, Juliann Sum:

Cal/OSHA requires condom use in adult films to protect workers from exposure to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Third Rock Enterprises failed to protect employees from illness and injury while on set.

The production company also violated laws by not providing vaccines or medical examinations to performers who were potentially exposed to diseases, including Hepatitis B. All said and done, the company racked up nine violations, four of which were determined to be so dangerous that “death or serious harm” could have resulted. The fines associated with all those violations combined total $77,875.

Deen responded to the news of the agency’s decision; according to a press release sent to ATTN:

At no point was any adult performer exposed to any disease while working for James Deen Productions. At no time did any performer contract any illness or suffer any injury while working for James Deen Productions. […] I am not ok with the government dictating what people are allowed to watch in the privacy of their homes. This is a case of an outside organization pushing their personal desires and agenda on the viewers of adult entertainment. Just because the AIDS Healthcare Foundation decides they are not comfortable with certain sexual acts does not mean is should be deemed illegal.

James Deen has been under a lot of criticism over the last few months. In December, he was accused of sexual assault by nine different female adult performers, including his high-profile ex-girlfriend Stoya. After the allegations surfaced, a few different porn companies dropped Deen as a performer.

A law that requires the use of condoms by porn performers in Los Angeles County, known as “Measure B”, was certainly controversial when it passed in 2012–although in this case, Deen was cited under existing Cal/OSHA regulations. However Measure B led to concerns of an exodus of porn companies from Los Angeles when it was first passed. Deen was opposed to that law from the beginning–seems like he’s about to put his money where his mouth is when it comes to regulations in porn.

Editor’s Note: The last paragraph has been updated to more clearly reflect the language of the Cal/OSHA regulations.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

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Porn’s glorified boy-next-door, James Deen, was once hailed as the adult film industry’s “feminist hero.” The 29-year-old porn pioneer repeatedly rebuked the title, but as of this weekend he can officially kiss the moniker goodbye. Deen has been accused by three female adult actresses and one anonymous woman of sexual assault.

The accusations began after Deen’s former girlfriend and fellow porn star Stoya sent out two tweets Saturday that called out his feminist persona and accused him of rape.

That thing where you log in to the internet for a second and see people idolizing the guy who raped you as a feminist. That thing sucks.

— Stoya (@stoya) November 28, 2015

James Deen held me down and fucked me while I said no, stop, used my safeword. I just can’t nod and smile when people bring him up anymore. — Stoya (@stoya) November 28, 2015

Deen responded to the allegations with his own series of tweets Sunday night reading:

There have been some egregious claims made against me on social media

— James Deen (@JamesDeen) November 30, 2015

I want to assure my friends, fans and colleagues that these allegations are both false and defamatory — James Deen (@JamesDeen) November 30, 2015

I respect women and I know and respect limits both professionally and privately

— James Deen (@JamesDeen) November 30, 2015

But it didn’t take long before two more female porn stars accused Deen of sexually assaulting them as well.

Adult actress Ashley Fires shared her story with the Daily Beast saying Deen is the only performer she absolutely refused to work with. She told the Daily Beast, “the reason I put him on my ‘no list’ was because he almost raped me.” Retired porn star Tori Lux quickly came to her side, recounting her only violent encounter with Deen, where he slapped her repeatedly and shoved her face into his crotch. Both incidents allegedly happened behind the scenes of major porn sets while they were changing or getting ready. Prior to those incidents, both women hardly knew Deen.

Now a reported fourth woman has come forward to LAist.com with her own rape allegations against the porn star. She asked the site not to name her, but instead to identify her using the initials T.M. She told the site that after only meeting Deen once, he forced her to have sex with him in front of a crowd of friends and fans at a hotel party.

So far there have been no formal charges filed against Deen, but the porn industry quickly began cutting ties with the star. The San Francisco-based BDSM and fetish porn company Kink.com has dropped Deen from its roster saying “consent and respect are sacrosanct” for the company and its performers “deserve the ability to work without fear of assault.” The porn company Evil Angel also broke off ties with Deen, suspending sales of newly created scenes featuring him.

Sex toy maker Doc Johnson has ceased production on a dildo molded from Deen’s penis and the Frisky, a women’s entertainment and lifestyle website, has announced that it will no longer publish Deen’s “What Would James Deen Do” sex-advice column on its site. OH Joy Sex Toy, an adult webcomics series, also removed ads for Deen’s website from its site and edited posts featuring him.

Johanna Angel, an alt-porn actress and producer who also dated Deen for six years, tweeted in support of Stoya.

You have my support @stoya . I’m here for you . https://t.co/KQZzHVIwcP

— Joanna Angel (@JoannaAngel) November 28, 2015

He’s dead on the inside and dead to me . He’s literally the worst person I’ve ever met . That’s all I’ll say for now #solidaritywithstoya

— Joanna Angel (@JoannaAngel) November 29, 2015

So is James Deen the Bill Cosby of porn?

Both men were considered role models in their respective fields, before having their reputations tarnished due to shocking sexual assault scandals involving multiple women. While we haven’t heard any stories of him drugging women, it’s the disappointment attached to such a popular star that likens him to Cosby.

In the past Deen has been lauded as feminist for his positive support of female sexuality, and history of making porn films aimed at appealing to women. Now his pro-women persona is kaput.

What’s incredibly sad about these women’s stories is that many of them said that were it not for the stigma attached to sex work, they most likely would have reported these assaults earlier. Unfortunately many people believe that when sex workers are assaulted they deserved it in some way, or it was their fault due to their line of work. However, sexual assault happens to all different types of women–and men–and its important to rally behind the victim, instead of the abuser.

Deen has denied these claims and has not be charged with anything, but the concern is entirely justified. Usually where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

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