Former adult film star Lana Rhoades has openly shared that she is asexual and believes pornography should be illegal. Rhoades entered the adult film industry in 2016, but after only filming for eight months in two separate four-month stints, she decided to retire due to the negative impact it had on her mental health.
At 27, Rhoades uses her platform to speak out against the adult entertainment industry. In a 2022 interview on The Skinny Confidential podcast, she spoke about the negative aspects of being a porn star. She shared that when she first entered the industry, she didn’t fully understand what it involved.
“I had only slept with one person at that point, so I was very sexually inexperienced,” Rhoades explained. She admitted that she didn’t realize that being in porn meant having to have sex with others, something she wasn’t prepared for. “It was just an idea in my head, but I wasn’t mature enough to realize what actually went into it,” she added. Soon after, she realized the industry wasn’t right for her.
Rhoades, who is also a mother, described how the adult film industry required her to have sex with people she didn’t choose or find attractive. “You’re having to have sex with people that you don’t really want to touch your body at all,” she said. She also mentioned how young women, especially 19-year-olds, can be exploited in this industry.
Despite her brief success, Rhoades is firm in her belief that pornography is harmful and should be made illegal. She said, “I just don’t think that it’s good for anyone.”
Additionally, she shared that she identifies as asexual: “I don’t find people attractive, and I’ve always been like that.”
Rhoades also spoke about how many women in the adult industry struggle with their careers and face issues like having intimate videos shared without their consent. Reflecting on her past, she said, “If I could go back, I would give up everything to have my dignity and respect back.”
