Adult film star Riley Reid, whose real name is Ashley Matthews, recently shared why she decided to stop filming scenes with male co-stars.
Riley began her career in adult films at 19 and quickly gained fame. Now 32, she has earned multiple awards, including an induction into the XRCO Hall of Fame in 2021 and the Female Performer of the Year award in 2014. On top of that, she has made six figures a month on OnlyFans.
Speaking on the What They Don’t Tell You podcast in 2021, Riley revealed how her career affected her dating life. “Dating was really hard,” she said. “As my name grew, it became tough to meet someone who didn’t already know me as Riley. They had this image of me that was hard to change.”
Riley also opened up about a previous relationship where her partner made her feel uncomfortable about her job. She explained, “He made me feel disgusting for what I did. He didn’t even want to kiss me after I came home from work. It made me question myself.”
Eventually, Riley chose to stop filming heterosexual scenes. “It was a decision I made on my own,” she said. “I wanted love and affection, and I felt like I couldn’t find that while I was still performing in those scenes.”
Since 2021, Riley has been married to Pasha Petkuns, a Latvian free-runner. They had a private wedding in Los Angeles and now have a daughter together. Riley shared on Instagram, “You’re so present with both of us. I’m happy to spend every day with you.”
She also talked about her relationship with her family, which was strained due to her career. “When I got into adult films, my family disowned me. They didn’t understand my decision or believe I was happy. They just assumed I was miserable,” she said.
Despite the challenges, Riley appears content with her decisions and the life she has built.
