Adult entertainment has seen a boom in the last few years.
And it's real work for many.
Who is anyone to judge?
Yes, it's still a taboo topic for many.
But if that is where your success lies, than who is to judge?
Redditor Isuckathis22 wondered what everyone would say if they discovered someone close was a sex worker, so they asked:
"What would your reaction be if your friend was a porn star?"
I actually have friends in the business. Doesn't change a thing for me.
Family Matters
Season 18 Omg GIF by America's Got Talent
Giphy
"We found out our cousin was a porn star, my mom and aunt (both 70 at the time) asked me to google her name to see if it was true... Um, safe to day I don't google family members anymore."
andurilmat
Earnings
"Not necessarily a pornstar but I do know a couple of people that successfully out-earn me to varying degrees on OnlyFans. None of our friends really care, but we are a little jealous of the money and not having to answer to a boss."
Cadenh16
"They actually re-use old videos and pictures. I know someone who did it for a while and is now retired but they have a huge vault of videos and photos that they pay a management company to post and chat with subscribers. They just sit back and collect checks now at least $150k a year after management fees."
secretreddname
My EYES!!!
"Depends on the friend either a bleach bath for my eyes or a night of studying."
CommanderAze
"I've watched professionally produced videos of 3 girls I know IRL."
"One posted a NSFW picture on FB with a more known actress which got me wondering since she was a dancer and I knew her stage name. One was through the rumor mill and the last I just stumbled on by accident. Thankfully no eye bleach was required but the dancer made me realize some things are best left to the imagination."
liquid_acid-OG
The Day Player
"I wouldn’t care."
"Source: my college best friend was never a star, but she did a few scenes, including with a famous pornstar."
"This happened nearly a decade ago. She used the money to fund her drug addiction. She is married now and is no longer involved in sex work (not that there would be anything wrong with it if she was). So no, I will not be giving more information, sorry lol."
infinite_five
Past Due
Living My Life Lol GIF by The Mick
Giphy
"I just asked her a lot of questions. (She was retired by the time I met her)."
suhkuhtuh
The topic itself fascinating.
Who wouldn't have questions?
Good for You!
heath ledger joker GIF
Giphy
"As the Joker said, 'If you’re good at something, never do it for free.'"
"But in seriousness no big deal. As long as it’s consensual and they aren’t being coerced into stuff, sex work is work and shouldn’t be stigmatized."
cheesyoperator
NAH!!
"LMAO wouldn't necessarily call her a porn 'star' but somewhat encountered this situation. A girl I knew from when I was younger didn't really know what she wanted to do and tried becoming an influencer for a couple of years, but that didn't work. I followed her and always tried to be supportive of her doing influencing stuff because it was semi-related to the industry I'm in."
"Anyways that wasn't doing well so she decides to start an Onlyfans, she asked all her friends to subscribe and support her. It was like 5 bucks so I said alright f**k it lmao. For a while, I didn't want to even check it out because it felt weird but I did at some point sift through what she was posting but it felt so weird I was like... nah."
syntaxndsemantics
The Happy-Go-Lucky Guy
"I have a friend who’s done more than one professional porno. It’s been about 8 years since his last one. He received an offer from a producer shortly after we graduated high school. He claims he and the producer totally randomly connected over Snapchat. I suspect he researched the producer and reached out first."
"My friend is a good-looking guy and hasn’t been shy about his manhood. He made home videos with a girl, and I believe he passed those along. The girl in his home videos did amateur porn after. When he first told me I didn’t believe him. He’s shown me some of his work, and frankly, I’m pretty impressed that he put himself out there. The one 'film' he showed me featured him and an actress twice our age."
"I’m jealous that he had the opportunity. I’m not sure I’m secure enough to do it myself. He made enough money to put a decent down payment on a Dodge Ram, and he stopped after his parents found out, which is hilarious to me. He was also told that if he wanted to make real money he had to switch teams."
"I asked him his thoughts on the whole process, and he basically said it was easy money and a lot of fun. He’s a happy-go-lucky kind of guy. I was curious if he felt any pressure or nerves, and he said he didn’t. Nowadays, he’s in the trades, he’s single."
newadventures96
Bad World
"I ran into a high school friend about 6 years after graduating and learned that she was doing porn. It made all the sense in the world because was always highly sexual in school and she was open and not sorry about it at all. Was nominated for a VPN award too so she was doing quality stuff, I’ve been told. I just asked her question after question. It’s a pretty f**ked up world they live in. Wild and fun, but brainwashy and not good for the soul."
TennesseeStiffLegs
I got you!
in living color GIF
Giphy
"No judgment. Earn your snaps however you want. I'd only check out their content if they're comfortable with it. I'm loyal, we're going to be friends always, now let's have drinks."
Honest_Art_3266
How people make their money is their business.
As long as no one is hurting anyone, who cares.
Guilt. That is a big one for me. I hate guilt, mostly because I wish I could avoid it. And guilt finds a way to pile on quickly with age. I'm starting to feel it.
Screw Ups
Sorry Dog GIF by swerkGiphy"When you screw up and a bunch of people were impacted. You're ashamed and have apologised but everyone's still pissed and too polite to mention it but you know they're all still steamed."
- qw-rty
"this isn't too bad"
"Broke my back during an accident a few years ago. Made a full recovery, but the night after they put chapstick sized screws in my back to hold it all together remains the most painful and miserable experience of my entire life. Woke up from surgery thinking "this isn't too bad," then entered the depths of hell a few hours later when the anesthesia faded."
"Fun fact: There's a limit to how many painkillers they can give you right after you've been under complete anesthesia. They increased the dosage the next day and i was alright, but that first night was something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy."
Upchuck!
"The feeling before you throw up really warm saliva, stomach hurting and heart moving."
"Oh man. Finally deciding to throw up at 11 PM after an all day hangover with nothing in your stomach. I've done it quite a few times. It's so brutal in those first few moments. Eventually you do feel better than before though. Don't be like me. Make the choice to throw up early. THROW UP LIKE A MAN!!"
Anxiety Issues
"Dealing with post partum anxiety. During a little family drive all was well until I looked at the dash. I had a panic attack over the gas gauge being close to E, despite us near a gas station and fine for money etc all of that. Absolutely bonkers panic attack. It was completely unwarranted yet it happened. I'm currently working on it with CB Therapy and it's been helpful."
Oh No!
waking up no GIFGiphy"Suddenly remembering something very important you were supposed to do at work at about 10 at night."
How are you feeling so far? I've had more comfortable reads. Some of this is giving me anxiety. And that is the last thing I need. But alas, here we are. I suppose we should continue.
Unease!
Scared Breaking Bad GIF by davidsaracinoGiphy"That dread in the pit of your stomach when you don't know if someone you love is alive or dead. I wouldn't wish that on anyone."
Silence
"Looking around and realizing there is no one you can really talk to anymore."
"Had COVID in March and had to isolate, when I was having a really hard time and believe to be COVID induced panic attacks... had no one to call just felt like a bother... not a good feeling."
- Amasse24
"I'm forced to be alone because my family wants me to come back home. I just wish they weren't trying to isolate me and force me to please a bunch of rich designers because honestly I'm heartbroken miserable and sad all the time. I just don't feel like I can connect with anyone anymore because everyone is constantly in their head imagining things about me instead of just talking to me."
Farewell...
"The death of a loved one."
- Deckham
"Especially if it's sudden, even if they're older. I lost my grandmother a few months ago to an accident, she always seemed so strong, like she'd live forever. It feels the same as when I lost my aunt, almost 13 years ago, to a brain aneurysm. She was only in her 40s. Losing both of them hurts in a different way than when someone passes after a long illness."
One Sided
"When you love someone, not only just care for them and appreciate their presence, but truly love them. You can't imagine a moment without them, a future that doesn't include them or a lifetime that isn't besides them. they are your muse, your motivation, and everything in between, without them, you feel less. they make you the person you want to be. Well when the feeling isn't reciprocated, that can suck majorly."
- chey5
PROOF!
Jim Carrey Reaction GIFGiphy"Everyone accusing you of lying when you're not actually lying and no way to proof it."
Death, lies and despair. At least they don't last forever, just until the next round. Next time you feel this yuck, try to breathe and smile. I don't know, It can't hurt.
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I can tell you from experience that airplanes are not a good idea. Don't ask me how I know. A lady never kisses and tells, but highlights are ok. There will never be enough room and the movies are lying.
Like Glue...
Melissa Mccarthy Falling GIFGiphy"I lived in Australia for a bit and our studio had this black pleather couch. It looked exactly like that casting couch meme so we tried it for fun once. My ex sweats a lot even when it's not 40C out, but it was and we stuck to the couch like glue."
The Sting
"On a hike in a wildlife refuge. We went off the trail to a more remote area. Was all fun and games tell I got stung on the penis. Was after the event had ended when I was briefly exposed, the little moron went right at me. We joke about it regularly, I'd say it comes up monthly. Just out of the blue she will say "hey remember when you got stung on your penis?" Yes, I remember and will never forget."
Up a Tree
"A "treehouse" that was actually a plywood shack on 6' stilts. It was pretty old and the plywood was splintery, so he laid down an old towel for me (you know, like a gentleman.) Also it was too small for me to fit in any direction, so my head stuck out the door. I stared at the sky and just... And that's the story of how I lost my virginity! A close second would be the bed in his semi-abandoned house full of the semi-abandoned hoarded belongings of his mother. But that's a different story."
Walk Away...
"Met a girl online and we tried to do it at the park. A cop showed up before we started and told us we had to leave. We went back to our cars which was at a small shopping mall. We went behind the shopping mall and got it on behind a dumpster. It worked out well so we met up there again a week later. Except that time, as we were walking away, a dump truck picked the dumpster to empty the trash. Was hilarious at the time but frightening looking back on it. This was about 10 years ago."
Keyed Off
Piano Performing GIFGiphy"I don't recommend on top of a piano. Very uncomfortable and not at all the experience we envisioned."
Scratchy...
Screaming The Voice GIF by NBCGiphy"Bottom of cliff next to the ocean. Turns out I have an allergic reaction to coral and my back was scratched the hell up from it. It was windy, wet, and itchy. Runner up is a movie theatre."
Smoked
"In a literal smoke house... lost my virginity with about 50 rings of deer sausage hanging around to dry. My friend and his dad were gone and we were like "this seems like a great place!" At least when I went home I smelled like venison instead of sex."
"Well, if you find yourself stuck in a rut, it'll be something to fawn over."
Hey Fam...
"I'm not sure if this counts because we didn't get very far. But In a Burger King parking lot… He had a car, so we would park it someplace and hook up in the tiny little two-seater. I was sitting astride him and most of my clothes were off when he froze. I looked over my shoulder and the once abandoned parking lot was abandoned no more. A family of four were just staring at us through the windshield. We didn't know what to do so I just put my shirt back on and we drove away."
"we can hear everything"
"My childhood house had an enclosed porch that was level with my parents' bedroom window (it's hard to explain). You couldn't see into the porch from the window, but if the porch windows were open and the bedroom windows were open you could hear everything from either room."
"So my now husband and I were trying to have sex in that porch, having opened the windows cuz it was hot AH. My parents usually never opened their window and it was past ten, when they usually went to sleep. We weren't trying to be loud, but apparently we were."
"After we were done, I checked my phone and I had 5 missed calls and a text from my mother saying "we can hear everything" and "please at least use a condom". We didn't acknowledge it at the time but my mom got drunk a few years ago and told my aunt the story and said she was worried she was hearing the conception of her grandchild."
Ivy!
jerry seinfeld help GIF by HULUGiphy"After a drunken night on 6th st in Austin, girl and I were walking down red river st, she drags me in this bushy grassy area, we go at it, finish, call an Uber to west campus, continue going at it. The next day, we are super itchy, come to find later it was poison ivy, got it all over our genitals. Fun times. 10/10 would do it again though."
Also, be careful when and if you do it on a bus. You're never fully out of the driver's line of sight. Don't ask me how I know, I just do. Be careful out there but have fun.
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