Austin Wolf has likely lost his moral compass, if he ever had one. But what about ours?
Austin Wolf: The Facts
This week, stories surrounding Austin Wolf’s detention in New York have taken over the Pornuniverse and Queerland. The online chatter is intense and often strays from the facts. Although this blog post isn’t primarily about the disgraced adult entertainment star, let’s clarify what we do know.
On Friday, June 28th, the Department of Justice announced that Mr. Wolf was facing two criminal charges. According to their report, published on their website, the popular porn star “is charged with sending and receiving hundreds of videos of child pornography via the Telegram application. These videos depicted children as young as infants, including a video showing a 10-year-old child bound and raped. In addition to sharing child pornography via Telegram, Wolf is also charged with possessing hundreds of additional videos containing child pornography in his Manhattan apartment.”
The judge deemed him a danger to the public and a flight risk, ordering his detention without bail in a New York City facility until his preliminary hearing, scheduled for July 29th.
So far, he faces two charges: one for possession and one for distribution of child pornography. He is not currently accused of producing such sickening material or profiting from it. However, further charges could emerge as the investigation progresses.
We highlight these facts not to defend Mr. Wolf, but to distinguish reality from sensationalist speculation. He may have abused children and profited from such abuse. He may have been involved in a child pornography ring. But at this point, we simply don’t know.
Austin Wolf: Are You Surprised?
I was surprised. I never imagined him involved in the abuse of a 10-year-old child. We aren’t talking about sex with underage adolescents but with a prepubescent child.
I struggle to believe those who claim they aren’t surprised. They likely mean they suspected he was involved with underage adolescents close to the age of consent, not that they knew he was exploiting infants. If they knew or suspected he was exploiting children, why didn’t they say anything? Several porn creators have denounced him, sharing their lack of surprise. Apparently, their suspicions were not an obstacle for collaborating with him.
I choose to believe they are reacting naturally, as many of us do, claiming “I knew it!” even when we knew nothing. And yet, if they are public figures, they are reacting irresponsibly and without thinking straight. They do not look well when they share they suspected it but collaborated with the man anyways. The sad irony of trying to be smart and demonstrating without doubts how stupid you are.
Austin Wolf was widely disliked within the industry, though people tolerated him due to his popularity. I won’t delve into his well-known questionable behaviors because this post is not about him but us.
Our Reaction
When I first heard the news, I took time to process it. Experience has taught me that those on the fringes of acceptability are often targeted with fabrications. Therefore, I don’t easily trust law enforcement and the legal system.
As more facts and prosecution details emerged and the judge denied bail, my opinion shifted toward believing the accusations.
However, I may be wrong, the prosecution may be wrong, and Austin Wolf must be presumed innocent until proven guilty. It’s crucial to respect this legal principle.
Those on society’s margins are especially vulnerable to becoming scapegoats and victims of prudish legal manipulations. If we work in the adult entertainment industry, consume its products, or belong to a sexual or gender minority, we may need our right to not be prejudged in the future.
After initial confusion, my stance is clear: Austin Wolf is innocent until proven guilty. Meanwhile, he should not receive special treatment. If the trial proves him guilty of any involvement with child pornography or abuse, he should face the most rigorous legal consequences.
I’m asking for no mercy not only because crimes against children are heinous but also to differentiate and denounce his behavior to avoid fueling the current homophobic backlash. As a celebrity, he has both privileges and duties.
Media’s Reaction
Most media outlets have reacted with tact and restraint. Mainstream outlets like NBC News and NYC’s Channel 4 have reported the facts objectively. Similarly, gay news outlets like Out avoided sensationalism. Reports like The Advocate‘s and Pride‘s were especially appreciated for including links to support resources for sexual abuse victims. Unfortunately, these actually humanly empathetic reports are few.
Many seem more eager to showcase their outrage towards Austin Wolf than to show genuine concern for the children involved. Beyond a few welcome offers of support resources, there’s little love and concern for the victims.
Beyond mainstream outlets, sensationalist reporting and speculation are rampant. I won’t link any examples to avoid contributing to their efforts.
On social media and discussion forums, chaos reigns. Out of three forums where I’m active, LPSG hid the thread after it surpassed 19 pages, Company of Men locked the thread but kept it visible, and Gayguides is still keeping it, probably due to low traffic and limited interest.
In the first two forums, the non mainstream blogs and v-blogs, and on Twitter, the conversation spiraled out of control, leading to a witch hunt.
The Witch Hunt
According to the outraged crowd, everyone knew about it. Austin Wolf’s collaborators and friends, they all knew he was a pedophile (even when he is currently not accused of pedophilia). All studios and productions involving younger and older men are deemed pedophiles’ nests (even when their imagery has nothing to do with pedophilia). And of course, their fans are guilty too. Guilty, guilty, guilty. They’re all pedophiles in disguise.
Some are obsessively monitoring who unfollows Austin Wolf. Porn creators still following him are accused of supporting pedophilia, while those who unfollowed are accused of hiding their support. There seems to be no escape if you were following him because, of course, everyone knew about it. I am glad I never followed him.
One frequently cited argument is that homosexual pedophilia fuels the right-wing’s homophobic backlash. Ironically, they’re fighting homophobia’s irrationality by adopting it. Furthermore, besides adopting as own homophobic stereotypes, they are adding audience to the marginal voices in the Right manipulating these events.
They conflate pedophilia, ephebophilia, underage sex, and twinks who look underage, and wreak havoc online, pointing fingers and flaunting their outrage. Let’s go after all the pedos!
Austin Wolf: A Developing Story
It’s been a week since the news broke. Mainstream and gay media outlets have acted responsibly, reporting the facts without speculation. Studios are withdrawing his movies and denouncing his alleged involvement with child pornography.
More charges may be added against Austin Wolf, and other adult entertainers could be implicated. Every studio and individual who worked with him should prepare to cooperate with the prosecution. If you know anything, instead of poisoning the cloud, report it to the FBI.
As public figures, the law should make an example of them. If proven guilty of any form of child abuse, they should face the harshest penalties.
While we wait for the hearing, let’s stop spreading misinformation and suspicions online. We could use this time to learn about the differences between pedophilia and ephebophilia. Perhaps we could read Sigmund Freud more carefully, starting with Totem and Taboo. Hopefully, you will understand better the dynamics of sexual attraction between parents/siblings/siblings/parents and how different cultures, in different times, have managed it.
But most importantly, we must stop the witch hunt. If you’re part of it, do it for yourself. Seeing minors and children where there are none reveals an unhealthy obsession. To everyone pointing fingers, I strongly advise you to check your own pedophilic impulses. Please, find another way to feel better about yourself.
And the children?
I suspect underlying motivations when they display such irrationality. Are they really concerned about the children? Or it is just about kicking Austin Wolf’s corpse in order to feel better about ourselves?
I agree we must protect the youngest. I just wish they showed the same concern to protect children from being exposed to violence, although I bet you they are against gun control and regulation of video games. We should protect also children from homelessness, sickness, and hunger, but I bet you they are against the welfare state.
That is something the industry and everyone should do. To take a stand and differentiate ourselves from useless self-righteous hysteria, we should do something specific to protect children.
I suggest to the studios that they should donate a small percentage of their profits to an organization that fights against children abuse, traffic, and exploitation. Not only the studios, we all should put our wallets where our mouth is. In the following section I provide some options.
If they are already doing it, I suggest they better advertise their good actions although not right now.
The following organizations offer various resources and support mechanisms, from on-the-ground assistance to policy advocacy and technological solutions. They are excellent points of contact if you’re looking to support or seek information on combating child abuse and exploitation.
Stay tuned,
Hasta la próxima pinga, amig@s!
josesoplanucas @gmail.com
International Organizations:
ECPAT International: A global network of organizations dedicated to ending the sexual exploitation of children. They focus on advocacy, research, and action to eliminate child sexual exploitation.
Save the Children: Works globally to ensure children’s rights to safety, health, and education. They have specific programs focused on protecting children from exploitation and abuse.
UNICEF: The United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide, with significant efforts to combat child exploitation and trafficking.
International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC): Focuses on combating child sexual exploitation, child pornography, and child abduction. They work globally to protect children from harm.
National Organizations (USA):
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC): Provides services to families and professionals in preventing child abduction and sexual exploitation.
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): The largest anti-sexual violence organization in the U.S. They operate the National Sexual Assault Hotline and partner with local service providers.
Thorn: Co-founded by Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, Thorn builds technology to defend children from sexual abuse and to eliminate child sex trafficking.
Regional Organizations:
Child Rights International Network (CRIN): Works globally but focuses on specific regions to advocate for children’s rights and end child abuse and exploitation.
Terre des Hommes: An international children’s rights organization that provides assistance to vulnerable children, including those at risk of exploitation.
Plan International: Works to advance children’s rights and equality for girls, with programs that include the prevention of child trafficking and exploitation.
