Darren James
Encyclopedia
Darren James is an American
former pornographic actor
who made worldwide headlines after testing positive for HIV
.
James tested positive on April 13, 2004. He is the first veteran actor to be infected since Tony Montana in 1999.
In an attempt to prevent a possible outbreak, an urgent search was initiated for potentially infected performers.Sharon Mitchell — Well-behaved women rarely make history
}} The search and subsequent testing was 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
.
Shock waves spread throughout the adult entertainment industry when it was discovered that three actresses who had worked with James shortly after his return to the United States
had also become infected. These were Canadian newcomer Lara Roxx
, Miss Arroyo and Czech-born Jessica Dee. Roxx had only entered the adult industry two months before contracting the virus. On 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."
Judy Star appeared in several movies where Roxx was also in the cast, and was known to have performed a sex scene with a female actress who had performed a scene with James. Star, however, tested negative for HIV.
The ensuing fears of HIV infection
(as well as the public scandal and criticisms of the industry that followed the outbreak) caused a temporary shutdown of production of adult movies in Southern California.
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, and was continuing in that line of work as of 2009.
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
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former pornographic actor
Pornographic actor
A pornographic actor/actress or a porn star is a person who appears in pornographic film. Most actors appear nude in films...
who made worldwide headlines after testing positive for HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
.
James tested positive on April 13, 2004. He is the first veteran actor to be infected since Tony Montana in 1999.
In an attempt to prevent a possible outbreak, an urgent search was initiated for potentially infected performers.Sharon Mitchell — Well-behaved women rarely make history
}} The search and subsequent testing was conducted by the Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation
Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation
The Adult Industry Medical Associates P.C. , also known simply as AIM or AIM Medical, was an organization that tested erotic actors for HIV and other STDs on a scheduled basis....
, where James had received his diagnosis. It was concluded that James had possibly been infected while engaging in unprotected anal sex
Anal sex
Anal sex is the sex act in which the penis is inserted into the anus of a sexual partner. The term can also include other sexual acts involving the anus, including pegging, anilingus , fingering, and object insertion.Common misconception describes anal sex as practiced almost exclusively by gay men...
with Brazilian actress Bianca Biaggi during a scene for the video Split That Booty 2 in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
.
Shock waves spread throughout the adult entertainment industry when it was discovered that three actresses who had worked with James shortly after his return to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
had also become infected. These were Canadian newcomer Lara Roxx
Lara Roxx
Lara Roxx was the stage name of a Montreal, Quebec-born Canadian, former porn actress who, in March 2004, became the first known individual in four years to allegedly contract HIV while making a US porn video.-Career:...
, Miss Arroyo and Czech-born Jessica Dee. Roxx had only entered the adult industry two months before contracting the virus. On 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."
Judy Star appeared in several movies where Roxx was also in the cast, and was known to have performed a sex scene with a female actress who had performed a scene with James. Star, however, tested negative for HIV.
The ensuing fears of HIV infection
Infection
An infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...
(as well as the public scandal and criticisms of the industry that followed the outbreak) caused a temporary shutdown of production of adult movies in Southern California.
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
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
. 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, and was continuing in that line of work as of 2009.
In 2005, the porn industry shutdown was the subject of the first episode of The Dark Side of Porn
The Dark Side of Porn
The Dark Side of Porn is a documentary series that examined the Adult Entertainment Industry. It was produced for Channel 4 in the United Kingdom.-Season 1 :-Season 2 :-External links:*...
, a British documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
series produced for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
.