Darren James

Darren James
Born Detroit, Michigan, United States
Occupation Actor

Darren James is an American former pornographic actor. He gained notoriety after he contracted the HIV virus and unwittingly infected three pornographic actresses.

Discovery of infection and aftermath

In an attempt to prevent a possible outbreak, an urgent search was initiated for potentially infected performers.[1] The search and subsequent testing were conducted by the Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation, where James had received his diagnosis. It was concluded that James had possibly been infected while engaging in unprotected anal sex with Brazilian actress Bianca Biaggi, during a scene for the video Split That Booty 2 in Rio de Janeiro.[2][3][4]

It was discovered that three actresses who had worked with James shortly after his return to the United States had also become infected: Canadian newcomer Lara Roxx, Mareisa Arroyo, and Czech-born Jessica Dee.[5][6][7] Roxx had entered the adult industry only two months before contracting the virus.[8] Upon learning about the HIV outbreak, she has said, "It totally made me realize how I trusted this system that wasn't to be trusted at all, because it obviously doesn't work," and "I thought porn people were the cleanest people in the world."[8]

Judy Star appeared in several movies Roxx also appeared in and was known to have performed a sex scene with a female actress who had performed a scene with James.[9] Star, however, tested negative for HIV.[10] The ensuing fears of HIV infection (as well as the public scandal and criticism of the industry that followed the outbreak) caused a temporary shutdown of production of adult movies in Southern California.[11]

According to James, his diagnosis and the public disclosure thereof — which was how his family learned of his pornographic career — left him so distraught that he attempted suicide. After his recovery, he sued the Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation for publicly disclosing his condition. The lawsuit was settled out of court, with terms remaining confidential. James went on to find employment as a security guard.[12] In 2005, the porn industry shutdown was the subject of the first episode of The Dark Side of Porn, a British documentary series produced for Channel 4.[13]

James has remained very vocal about the incident and about adult filmmakers' continuing their habits "as usual". He is a staunch advocate of the mandatory use of condoms on porn sets to protect performers from HIV.[14] Canadian documentary filmmaker Mia Donovan[15][16] made a documentary film Inside Lara Roxx (2011), after following Roxx's life for five years, with candid interviews and documentation, in addition to footage from Darren James.

References

  1. ↑ Nick Madigan (2004-05-10). "Voice of Health in a Pornographic World". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-02-26.
  2. ↑ AVN :: Test Results Pending for Two Performers Archived June 18, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ Gene Ross (2007-05-27). "Lara Roxx Timeline Begs Questions: Darren James got it from Lara Roxx, not the other way around?". Adult FYI. Archived from the original on 2008-03-13.
  4. ↑ "Pyramid of potential infection". Los Angeles Times. 2004-04-16. Retrieved 2008-03-20. Time line of potential first and second generation infections
  5. ↑ Nick Madigan (2004-04-30). "New H.I.V. Infection Found in Sex-Film Industry". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
  6. ↑ "AVN - Another First-Gen Woman Diagnosed as HIV-Positive". Archived from the original on 21 August 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  7. ↑ "AVN - Viral Load Results Indicate James was 'Patient Zero'". Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Lara Roxx: "I thought porn people were the cleanest people in the world."". Adult Video News. 2004-04-17. Archived from the original on 2009-05-10. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  9. ↑ ""Canadian Trio on the Quarantine List; Doghouse Digital Offers Aid"". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  10. ↑ "On the Roxx", by Kristian Gravenor, Montreal Mirror, 2004-04-29. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
  11. ↑ Nick Madigan (2004-04-17). "H.I.V. Cases Shut Down Pornography Film Industry". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
  12. ↑ Lin II, Rong-Gong (June 15, 2008). "Porn star recalls nightmare of testing HIV positive". Los Angeles Times.
  13. ↑ The Dark Side of Porn. UK: Channel 4. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  14. ↑ Lin II, Rong-Gong (12 October 2010). "Former porn star Darren James speaks out about latest HIV case". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  15. ↑ Christine Estima (8 May 2012). "Hot Docs interview: Mia Donovan, director of Inside Lara Roxx". TheGATE.ca. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  16. ↑ Brian McKechnie (5 May 2012). "Interview: Filmmaker Mia Donovan looks at what's 'Inside Lara Roxx'". Criticize This, Canada. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
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