Jesse Santana Speaks: Not All Porn Stars Are Escorts
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following was written by porn star Jesse Santana and was circulated by email to industry publications. With permission, we've reprinted the article in full.
Escort, model, pornstar...these are simply job titles, all of which should be respected in their own right, but not to be confused. Individual pornstars may also have separate job titles. Some are doctors, some are teachers, some are bartenders, waiters, dancers, professional ice skaters, Olympic swimmers, and some...are escorts. But more often than not, most pornstars have to struggle under the consistent assumption that all porn models are prostitutes as well. Why should one title create another? It's honestly a shame that a porn model can't be proud of his or her job, without it also being assumed that sex and/or services are up for sale. And why is it that a large percentage of models are told, at one point or another, that in order to be a 'bigger star' they need to keep some would-be clients happy? It's the sad truth, but it's wrong. Pornstars should be liked for their performances on-screen, not off-screen.
First, let me simply say that my standpoint is not at all against escorting or escorts, but against the misled presumption that simply being a pornstar in today's society automatically links you to being an escort as well. Whereas, most of us pornstars would rather be associated with what we truly do as a profession. In saying that, I only mean to offend the certain individuals who think that a room full of pornstars is the equivalent of a buffet with a complete carry-out/to-go menu.
Some may argue that both parties are paid for sex, but consider this...pornstars choose how to express themselves, whereas escorts are at the mercy of their clients desires. Pornstars are selling a finished product, a scene or a DVD. An escort's product is his/her own body or time. Adult film is completely legal and an honest form of acting, or entertainment rather. The hard truth is that the core of most every escort's business is prostitution, which is illegal in all but two states in the United States. Porn models are paid by check by legitimate companies, whereas escorts are usually paid in cold hard cash by free-standing individuals. It's a free country, do what you choose...but many pornstars would rather not be directly categorized with illegal jobs and situations, such as prostitution.
Lately, I've been setting the gay porn world On Fire. I have a strong relationship with a wonderful Guy and this topic means a lot to us, and certainly heavy on the minds of any other non-escorting pornstar. We're regular guys who enjoy our career as gay adult entertainers, but that where the line stops. It's depressing, infuriating, heartbreaking, nauseating, and most of all, sadly discouraging, that the general public and the porn industry itself, can't realize that not all of us sell ourselves in such a way. This specific, misconstrued perception of porn models is an extremely unsettling and disrespecting misconception that needs to be put to light and set straight, for the sake of every self-respecting pornstar's morals and integrity.
Being asked to sell ourselves is not a compliment or flattering to us in any way. Even if a certain pornstar were to escort as well, they probably don't want to be approached for an escorting job while they're representing themselves as a pornstar...I mean, a doctor doesn't want to go to a party and be asked to give a woman a breast exam. We're not just a bunch of pretty faces, bubble butts, and big dicks...we pornstars have our own ideas, views, and voices...all of which need to be heard! If you're a pornstar who escorts, be proud of it. But if you're really looking for a good hott escort, please try rentboy.com.
It's your turn, dear QC reader, to let us know your thoughts on this issue. Agree with Mr. Santana? Think he's wrong? Please leave a comment, but please keep the debate civil.
Previously on QC:
Jesse Santana
Jesse Santana at CockyBoys.com
Jesse at CorbinFisher.com
Jesse Gets Fucked at CorbinFisher.com
Brent Fucks Jesse at CorbinFisher.com
Toby Fucks Jesse at CorbinFisher.com
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Reader Comments
Your 2¢, in chronological order — add your comment below.
While I respect Jesse's opinion, he appeared as a performer at this year's Hustlaball. While no one should be guilty by association, lending your name and body to an event sponsored by Rentboy will leave some people thinking that this article is complete hypocrisy.
Who cares if porn stars are escorts or not...Jesus, do we really have to read the silly little rant of this princess....what a waste of time and valuable net space..christ, Jesse might have a hot bod, and great cock, but my 7 year old niece who's into Barbie and Ken dolls, has a greater IQ level....
"lately I've been setting the porn world on fire" - Um, humble much?
I get that he's saying no one should assume automatically that he escorts, and that's fine. But that leap of logic wasn't made up one afternoon in class, folks - it came to be because many, many, MANY porn actors also do sex work.
A simple "please ask first" I can respect. But acting like an injured party - mmm, not so much.
I absolutely agree with you Alex. The overall statement made in his statement, in my opinion, reeks of hypocrisy and judgemental expressions. At the same time that he makes the very valid point that not all pornstars are escorts, he delves into making character judgements about escorts and presenting a "holier than thou" counter about why pornstars are better than escorts; which is completely ludicrous and ridiculous. So I'm assuming he thinks less of himself than if he were an underwear model and wasn't showing his "goods" in camera and print?? Trying to associate some hiearchy to this business is a slippery slope that is rarely navigated well. One could say that escorting is a more noble profession because they do what they do behind closed doors and not for the whole world to see. I just think it's silly of him to produce and release this statement. He should respect that he is the sex business and as such will have to field escorting requests. The correct thing to do in my mind is to politely decline and leave it at that. And with the number of pornstars that do escort and former escorts that are now pornstars, it's a fair question for someone to have. Also, as Alex mentioned, if he feels so passionately about this then I would suggest the last place he should be showing up and lending his name to is Rentboy's Hustlaball. Apparently, Mr. Santana was not privy to the world he was entering when he decided to become a pornstar. I'm certainly not saying that all pornstars are escorts or want to be escorts; but you would be a heck of a lot more likely to ask Jesse Santana or Roman Heart if they escorted than your attorney or your maintenance man. And you'd be more likely to ask your maintenance man if he knows anything about cars versus your attorney. I think he needs to calm down and step off his high horse. He's not the first pornstart to deal with this and he will not be the last.
Jesse Santana? Never heard of him. Frankly, not all escorts are porn "stars." Some of them want to get paid without having to face an unstoppable image that they may not want to live with in a few years or decades. David Chappelle puts it best when addressing scantily clad women who fuss when someone thinks they're a whore:
"OK! You're not a whore... you just wear the uniform of a whore."
Dear Jesse, "Thou dost protest too much."
My favorite protestation of being called an escort comes from the musical EVITA! when Eva Peron goes to Italy and the crowds are less than hospitable:
[Eva:]
Did you hear that? They called me a whore!
They actually called me a whore!
[Italian admiral:]
But Signora Peron it's an easy mistake
I'm still called an admiral
Yet I gave up the sea long ago.
P.S. Get some Accutane and do some crunches.
At the risk of totally crushing his huge ego......who exactly is he....and why exactly is it that I care if he's a porn star and/or a male escort?
You have the choice to get paid for sex. A whore is a whore no matter how much you pay him.
Porn stars should just shut up and look pretty.
Jesse, should have the right to express himself. He is justified in asking that people not stereotype porn stars. I don't appreciate it when people assume that because I'm gay;I am promiscuous, or that because I'm Hispanic; I don't know English. Why is it alright for so many to idolize porn stars and tell them how hot they are and then they minute they say something they have crossed a line?
I don't care whether he escorts or not. All I know is that he is a gorgeous guy who is very easy on my old eyes and gives me pleasure just looking at him.
Well I don't have a bf but if I did I'd prefer he wasn't an escort. I wouldn't mind if he was a hot porn star - but wouldn't u get jealous of sharing him around. It is prolly tough being famous as anything. I smell a prat.
"Adult film is completely legal and an honest form of acting"
ROFLMAO :D
who are we to critisize? afterall we all come here to look at porn and fulfill our fantasties knowing full well that the models are just acting for our pleasure - its interesting though, that anyone should try to have a high moralistic view point whilst being a porn reader/user :)
I do this seldom, and am actually surprised that I'm going it.
I can see where Jesse Santana *smirk* is going with this, but honestly, I think I'm agreeing with those who came before me.
The address was not well written, but his point is clear and... well I can deal with both.
But couldn't he get Brent Corrigan to write this letter? Now that kids blog is easy to read.
-Fluuuuuuffffff
Get over yourself, Jesse!
I must have clicked on and off this comment section a few times - deciding whether or not to write. Then, I clicked on the Hustlaball link above and saw that 3 or 4 of the models there are on Rentboy.com. While I agree that Jesse should be able to have his opinion, couldn't his entire diatribe be summed up by saying, "I don't want to be labeled as an Escort...I'm a Porn Star." I mean, it seems he has to know that while he is in front of the camera professing his employment faithfulness, his contemporaries are backstage sneeking around doing escort work. And, by the way, my best friend is a doctor, and if he were at a party and some girl came up to him and asked him to do a breast exam...Stand Back! Break out the anticeptic! Jesse, you seem very passionate about your point, and I applaud your commitment. But the rest of your blather is a bit too self righteous for me. I would figure you would want credit for WHATEVER work you do. Those who act AND sell their wares may want to be called porn star and "Ho."
WOW...y'all are definitely a bit judgmental. Everyone has an amazingly valid point...
Jesse: I agree that people have wild assumptions about porn stars PERIOD both gay and straight. You have the absolute right to stand up and say "This isn't me and I don't do this...I'm just a performer." No one should have to deal with those kinds of assumptions...(how many of them are self imposed and imagined by either you and/or the scores of other porn stars...WHO KNOWS...in other words, just because I'm checking out your form and ranting about your physical attributes to you a la fanboy style doesn't mean I'm willing and/or want you to come home with me for money! I could just be a huge slobbering fan...of which I AM...On Fire was AMAZING and your Titan work is TOPS especially your DP in Men's Room 3!).
QC universe: Try not to be soooo mean...Jesse is part of a burdgeoning trend of young porn star entrepreneurs who are shockingly almost "branding" themselves (to use an industry term) through self promotion, business ventures and productions, cross-media selling, etc. so whether this is a bid to control his image, bankability, or to set the record straight...he has the right to use this and other outlets as his forum. That said, everyone's point is well taken...out of context this statement does seem like boasting, arrogance, etc. and clearly he has shot himself in the foot with regards to appearing at an event co-sponsored by Rentboy...which ties it all back to the fact that Jesse is YOUNG and still learning about being a performer AND a businessman/self-promoter. Hopefully he'll learn and watch closer what events he attends as a headliner and scrutinizes the sponsors so as not to create any unseamly appearances through "guilt by association".
That is all. :)
Everyone's just bitter because you just realized that pornstars are real people, with real feelings, and that they're not all selling themselves to you.
I think the thing is, that Jesse does support escorting. He is good friends with many of the guys in charge of rentboy.com He's not speaking out against escorts at all, just the idea that just because you're a pornstar, you're also an escort. They even posted his article in one of their blogs! It is very well written...he's not boasting, and doesn't seem to be on any kind of high horse to me.
Can you guys really not handle the fact that a pornstar has an IQ and a voice?
I mean, you're all about hearing him say, "Fu*k me harder" or "Give me that big di*k," but he can't actually speak his mind?..I mean, you bloggers speak your mind, that's obvious.
This article isn't hurting you guys at all, maybe you should all quit being such bitter fags and have a heart...selfish retarded bitc*es...
well first i must say that i myself am a porn actor and have been for two years so i completely agree with jesse santana... being in the porn industry isnt easy... having a relationship is very difficult and on top of that, we have such a hard time with the presuming that were all escorts just because we do porn... i mean yeah were having sex on camera but its a job like any other... alot of people dont appreciate what we do and doing porn isnt easy and ill be the first to say that... yeah we have some people that like us and some people that pop off really rude remarks like oh he isnt hott why the hell is he doing porn??? were doing porn one for business, and too forfill ur fantasies!!! jesse santana is one of the sweetest guys that you will ever meet, hes an ex of mine and also a great friend of mine.. so before you start to judge or make rude comments towards a porn performer just think about it before you say anything... just spend a day in the shoes of a pornstar and you will see what we have to put up with on a daily basis... all the negative remarks.. all the good remarks... all of the presumptions that are made about us... were normal people just like everyone else and have feelings just like everyong else!!!
aren't pornstars by definition - prostitutes???
no, pornstars arent by definition prostitutes... the difference between the two is that being a pornstar we get paid by check just like any normal job.. another thing is that porn is legal.. and with prostitution... one its illegal except for in two states.. and prostitutes get paid cold hard cash...
Hey guys! Just wanted y'all to check out this interview by Porn Confidential.