07/05/2007
Porn Again Legitimacy?
If F. Scott Fitzgerald was right when he wrote that "there are no second acts in American lives" then how do you explain the careers of former porn boys turned mainstream fashion models Scott Andreasen and Thierry (aka Terry) Pepin?
Andreasen -- who is absolutely adorable -- is represented by Next Models USA in Miami, yet he can also be seen as the ironically named "Harry" in JO films for SeanCody.com, the famed producer who gets "straight boys to unload." And Pepin starred in the hard-core gay porno flick "Minets du Quebec" (plus the less salacious "Danny in the Sky"), most of which have been pulled from shelves. Does being the face of Ralph Lauren's Romance get you some top-notch legal representation? What do you think?
Unlike some publications, I'm not exactly ready to deem these two examples a full-scale trend. But I do think it's safe to say we're living in a post-Paris Hilton sex tape world now in which the stigma of pornography is quickly disappearing. The phenomenon began back in 1990 when John Waters cast Traci Lords in his 1950s musical "Cry Baby" (Roseanne Barr took it a step further and put Lords on her smash sitcom -- on Disney-owned ABC, no less!). Then Jenna Jameson wrote a bestseller and started popping up in mainstream venues, which wound up being a prelude to Hilton's overnight superstardom (let's be honest here: it wasn't "The Simple Life" that took her from Page Six darling to international headlines). I used to think it was sad 15-20 years ago that the only recognizable "stars" the gay community had were the likes of Jeff Stryker, Ryan Idol and Joey Stefano -- or someone famous with HIV (Greg Louganis), but these days I almost find it sadder a lot mainstream "stars" aren't much different.
The fact that Hilton hangeroner Kim Kardashian and "Brandy's brother" Ray J can't stop "accidentally" leaking their so-called "private" sex tape (it's even available on pay-per-view at the Waldorf Astoria!) -- and have wound up becoming tabloid darlings as a result -- further proves that pornography is not only no longer the kiss of death in Hollywood, it's often an entre. Maybe this is a good thing that indicates Americans are finally getting over our sexual hang-ups, Or maybe not.
You can see some COMPLETELY NSFW shots of the boys here, here and here. There's more information on the Terry Pepin legal action regarding "Minets du Quebec" here. (The post isn't NSFW but the site is.)
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 1:55 PM EST by Kenneth Walsh in Porn | Permalink
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Okay...if anyone knows the name of the porn titles that Thierry Pepin starred in *please* post those titles here...there's got to be a copy or two floating around the video stores here in West Hollywood.
Posted by: peterparker | Jul 5, 2007 2:17:02 PM
Now if I'm not mistaken, I believe Theirry Pepin was first a model/actor then the adult career kicked in.
Spank my ass and call me Charlie, if I'm wrong!
Posted by: marks | Jul 5, 2007 2:18:59 PM
Harry is HOT!
Posted by: Dave | Jul 5, 2007 2:20:35 PM
Eh. I don't think the stigma is disappearing. Just a few months ago, didn't some guy quit his (minor) position at the Israeli consulate when the NY Post found out he was a porn star? The fashion/entertainmen industries are a lot more forgiving about porn than the rest of the country. Whatevs. If these guys can get a fashion career out of this, I say go for it.
Posted by: Dennis | Jul 5, 2007 2:24:51 PM
PETERPARKER - The 1 film that I've been able to find info on is called Minets du quebec and it looks like Mr. Pepin successfully got them to remove his 10 minutes of fame...but there are screen grabs at a link on the following page:
http://gcspotlightmag.typepad.com/gcspotlightmagblog/2006/06/minets_du_quueb.html
I'm tempted to see if anybody at Video West has a behind-the-counter copy...
Posted by: Rey | Jul 5, 2007 2:48:47 PM
I wouldn't exactly call the N2N Bodywear ad a step to legitimate modeling. That underwear brand routinely features full nudity on its website, so it's not surprising that they would recruit models form the porn world. They, like other companies like them, have done just that in the past. It's not exactly like scoring an Abercrombie billboard. I think it's more a case of the invisible wall that separates porn from other entertainment. The entertainment industry seems forgiving of a few Simon Rex-style youthful indiscretions, but we have yet to see a porn star on the scale of, say, Matthew Rush be embraced by the mainstream.
Posted by: Aaron | Jul 5, 2007 3:34:00 PM
Once former child pron star Tracey Lords got into legit films the doors were kicked open for all porn stars to grab the money. Hey, these gay boys are hot, why not let them be seen by the public. All they did was have lots of sex anyway!
Posted by: new day | Jul 5, 2007 3:39:40 PM
Many large companies have stakes in the porn industry which means that actors can get agents that work in a variety of fields. Any company that wants an "edge" to their brand will risk the PR backlash from hiring a "porn star" if they want, particularly minor stars without reputations. And Harry is beyond cute, so who's going to complain?
Posted by: anon (gmail.com) | Jul 5, 2007 3:47:04 PM
@Aaron:
Embrace Matthew Rush? How could the mainstream ever hope to get its arms all the way around a porn star of his "scale?"
Posted by: 24play | Jul 5, 2007 3:51:31 PM
I have a couple friends who've worked in the office side of the gay porn industry and they won't put it on their resumes either.
Posted by: Ridwah | Jul 5, 2007 3:55:42 PM
Well it's nice to know that no matter how uptight and conservative our political climate gets, sex will always sell. There's hope yet.
By the way, let's not forget my all time favorite hottie Joseph Sayers, who got his start with a set of amateur porn shots and went on to become a legitimate, big-time fashion model. Luckily, despite his success, he has no issues with nudity and still likes to show us the yummy goods from time to time.
Posted by: Matty | Jul 5, 2007 4:07:25 PM
Nothing new, the gay porn star (now of cheesy bareback videos) "Jason Tyler" had a legit modeling career and that was a number of years ago. He's was never truly gay-A, but did rank Falcon box covers.
Posted by: Rich | Jul 5, 2007 4:11:53 PM
Someone remind me - didn't some other ex-adult (gay) film star recently make the jump to "legit" modeling? I thought I read about this not too long ago....
Posted by: PistolPetey | Jul 5, 2007 4:20:33 PM
Yes, but are gay porn stars "gay"? Remember Matt Sanchez.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Jul 5, 2007 5:02:14 PM
Ray...bless you!
Posted by: peterparker | Jul 5, 2007 5:44:02 PM
PistolPetey...maybe you're thinking of Erik Rhodes doin' a photo shoot for a department store?
Posted by: Jason | Jul 5, 2007 5:49:33 PM
Five foot three
And all girlie
One inch less
he’d be a she.
Posted by: tokojo | Jul 5, 2007 5:59:14 PM
So how come Thierry Pepin's attorneys did not go after the Russians too?
Posted by: Krishnan | Jul 5, 2007 6:40:33 PM
Porn is actually a very regressive concept that is bad for gay rights. Consider straight porn movies. Straight porn movies completely ban the male-male sexual interaction. In contrast, female-female is encouraged alongside male-female. It's a complete and utter double standard. The porn industry is the only industry that completely bans the male-male sexual interaction in movies that contain both men and women.
Posted by: tom | Jul 5, 2007 8:01:32 PM
The problem with gay men in general is that they think that advertisers are being gay-friendly when they depict posing beefcake . It's not gay-friendly in the slightest. If these advertisers had any balls, they would show two men embracing in the same way they show men and women embracing in cliched heterosexual poses. They don't have balls, and that's why they're not showing it.
Posted by: michael | Jul 5, 2007 8:07:01 PM
My porn job is front and center on my resume. Companies in LA don't really care if you have worked in porn.
Posted by: Lano | Jul 5, 2007 8:09:00 PM
When an actual gay person makes it like Joseph Sayers or the like then it'll be something. Otherwise it's the same old story. Gay and straight people have a bias in favor of straight people that's why porn stars like Joseph Sayers and Jenna Jameson made it in the mainstream. Look at this site besides the Pride photos where are the gay men? Are Thierry and Andreasen gay? Are the guys in the sporty post at the bottom of the main page gay?
Posted by: Jack! | Jul 5, 2007 11:12:13 PM
let's not over analyze this. the two boys are hot. harry has a small dick, but it's cute as hell.
Posted by: nic | Jul 6, 2007 12:34:28 AM
"The phenomenon began back in 1990 when John Waters cast Traci Lords in his 1950s musical "Cry Baby"
-Actually, Canadian horror guru David Cronenberg cast porn actress Marilyn Chambers as the lead in his 1977 biological vampirism movie RABID. She plays a woman who sucks people's blood with a phallic organ in her armpit...And more recently, Jeff Stryker starred in *his* first non-porn role, the Italian splatterfest horror film ZOMBI 4...
Posted by: Wirrrn | Jul 6, 2007 1:21:04 AM
So the porn industry should be commended now?
Wow...I think as gay men, in our hunger for diminishing the conservative bible belt that tend to be closed minded, we went on the other EXTREME of things and adopted pornography as not only the norm, but our "TAKE THAT!"...
In reality...that's what everyone pigeon holes us to begin with. Horny, perverted, good for nothing, SEX addicted, dick starved, sex, sex, sex, sin mixed with drugs kind of breed. That's the stereotype. All those elements exist in the porn industry and we promote it as a community. So not only are we giving into what the nayayers are saying about us, we are back peddling in the process.
I won't celebrate a guy who takes off his "panties" for money...who jacks off for a camera as a source of income...who uses all of his body parts except but his brains, to make a living, even if he's gay...ESPECIALLY if he's gay. A gay man who has sex for a living won't be role modeling my lifestyle.
We wonder by promiscuity is rapid in our community. Why monogomy is a long lost artform. Why everything in virtually any conversation between two attractive gay strangers eventually boils down to "size"...Is it much of a wonder when we get our kicks and giggles from a 20 something model who happens to have lot's of muscle definition and isn't the least bit reserved in having strangers lick it on camera for cash. Yeah...way to make an equal rights statment to the world.
Give me a chemist, a teacher, a Noble peacea prize nominee, to someone who cures a lethal disease who happens to be gay..and I'll roar with PRIDE. The real kind.
When Paris Hilton and her equally repulsive side kick, Kim Kardawhogivesadamn, is your point of refrence for driving that point home...(point being the acceptance of porn trash) then it's a lost cause from the word GO.
Sex isn't everything in life. It's really not. There's alot more out there to explore, enjoy, and actually stimulate your other head with.
You know..it's okay to be gay and have morals, values, ethics, class, limitations, standarads and respect (for your mind,body, and soul and others as well) It may not be "popular" and make you "hot"...but it's really quite alright (and very noble might I add) to inheret those traits.
What a terrific message sent loud & clear to that 14 year old closeted boy in Middle America sitting in his room in Tulsa seeing a gay porn star as the poster child of "his kind" and aspiring to be that. "Look kid, this is what you can be too if you move to Weho, Soho and club hop! Come out already and join the bandwagon" (insert eyeroll facial expression followed by dissapointment).
Posted by: Kyle | Jul 6, 2007 3:38:25 AM