Syphilis Case Shuts Down LA Porn

Some of the largest companies in the sprawling porn industry centered around Los Angeles have come to a standstill after a performer revealed that he'd hidden his syphilis diagnosis from producers and filmed several scenes knowing that he'd been infected. His name has not been disclosed nor is it known if he performed in gay or straight scenes. (Or both.)

Generally, the porn industry doesn't shut down unless there is a confirmed case of HIV (which happened in both 2010 and 2011). Syphilis, of course, is a curable disease, but can be fatal if left untreated. And since the performer worked several times with a doctored sexually transmitted infection (STI) test before coming forward, there are fears about the disease spreading. While the porn industry is under significant financial pressure due to piracy and the rise of “amateur” Web sites, insiders say this shutdown should not have a noticeable effect on revenues at major studios. Big players in the porn industry typically have a large stockpile of films awaiting release and can ride out a shutdown. The porn industry shoots roughly 20,000 scenes per year. Bigger companies tend to produce four or five films per month – with costs reaching upwards to $300,000 – allowing them to stockpile releases.

This November residents of Los Angeles County will vote on whether condom usage should be mandatory for male performers. That law already exists within the Los Angeles city limits but it has not yet been enforced.