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Compton School Officials Only Knew Sasha Grey From Her Appearance on 'Entourage,' They Say
Sasha Grey Photo via Shutterstock
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Officials at Emerson Elementary School are being asked to do some explaining after mortally offended parents demanded to know why former porn star Sasha Grey was allowed to commit the sin of reading to a classroom of first-graders. Grey was at the Compton school on November 2 as part of the Read Across America program. School officials at first just outright denied that she had been there, but after photos of a beaming Grey holding up a picture book in front of a group of rapt kids surfaced on TMZ, they were forced to come clean.
Now, KTLA reports that the school is claiming it had no idea about Grey's former career -- the career that put her on the map, and included awards for "Best Oral Sex Scene" and "Best Anal Sex Scene" -- and was only told about her guest spot on "Entourage."
Since the onset of the brouhaha, Grey has taken to Twitter to say that she won't stop participating in Read Across America. She issued a statement on November 11, saying:
I am proud to have participated in the "Read Across America" program at Emerson Elementary School in Compton, CA. I read “Dog Breath” by Dav Pilkey to the sweetest 1st and 3rd grade children. "Read Across America" is a program that was designed to promote literacy and instill a lifelong love of reading in elementary school students. Promoting education is an effort that is close to my heart. Illiteracy contributes to poverty; encouraging children to pick up a book is fundamental. I believe education is a universal right. I committed to this program with the understanding that people would have their own opinions about what I have done, who I am and what I represent. I am an actor. I am an artist. I am a daughter. I am a sister. I am a partner. I have a past that some people may not agree with, but it does not define who I am. I will not live in fear of it. To challenge non-profit education programs is an exercise in futility, counter-productive and anti-educational. I cannot thank my fans and “Read Across America” enough for supporting my decision. Your support and kind words continue to inspire me. I believe in the future of our children, and I will remain an active supporter and participant in education-focused initiatives.
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Read Across America is a program devoted to keeping books in kids' lives through the encouragement of adults in their communities. According to their website, in addition to Grey, participants have included actors, politicians and athletes, all of whom no doubt have squeaky clean, virginal personal lives.
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